Two-thousand and twenty-two was an excellent year for Brazilians in the United States: more than 23, 000 citizens of Brazil obtained their Green Cards last year.
Unlike in the past - when many Brazilians abandoned their careers in search of the American dream - today it is possible for a person to obtain a Green Card precisely through their professional experience and skills .
And you, as a physiotherapist, can take advantage of this opportunity! The United States has a market with excellent salaries for health professionals, who are essential for maintaining the well-being and development of American society.
Salaries
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a physical therapist in the United States is 97 thousand dollars.
Also according to the US government, these are the average annual salaries for physiotherapists in different US states:
- California: 114 thousand dollars.
- Nevada: 105 thousand dollars.
- New Jersey: 105 thousand dollars.
- Alaska: 104 thousand dollars.
- Connecticut: 103 thousand dollars.
How to validate your physiotherapy diploma in the USA
To validate your physical therapy diploma in the United States, you will need to contact the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) and demonstrate that you meet the necessary requirements to be a physical therapist in the USA. These requirements include a bachelor's degree in physical therapy, registration as a physical therapist in your home country and passing the TOEFL (English language proficiency) exam.
By fulfilling all the necessary requirements, the candidate will be able to take the National Physical Therapy Examination(NPTE), which is taken by all those who wish to obtain a physical therapist's license in the United States.
State physical therapy boards grant professional licenses to those who pass the exams, but it is the US government that gives foreigners permission to work and reside permanently in the United States through immigration visas. As a physical therapist, you may be eligible for a visa in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories.
EB-1 and EB-2 visas
EB-1 and EB-2 visas were created with the passing of the Immigration Act in 1990. This law, drafted by the US Congress, aimed to facilitate the immigration of qualified professionals from all over the world to the US in order to promote the economic, social, environmental, scientific and academic progress of the United States.
And in these visa categories(EB-1 and EB-2) the US government waives the need for a prior job offer for the eligible candidate. In practice, this means that professionals eligible for these green card categories use their careers as a passport to America.
You, who are a physiotherapist in Brazil, can also use your professional expertise to immigrate to the United States.
Physiotherapy and athletes: a growing market
If you are part of the coaching staff of a professional team and have won international awards as a member of this staff, you have a high chance of being approved for your Green Card. This is possible because international sports awards are part of the eligibility for EB-1 and EB-2 green cards.
EB-2 NIW Visa
If you have a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy, more than five years ' professional experience and exceptional or extraordinary skills in your field, you may be eligible for a Green Card!
And, if you are approved for a Green Card under this visa category, your spouse and children under the age of 21 will also be granted their respective Green Cards.
All this without you needing a previous job offer in the United States.
How do I know if I am eligible?
Want to know if you're eligible for a Green Card?
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