Frequently Asked Questions
UMHR is a healthcare recruitment and placement service that provides non-profit skilled nursing facilities, hospitals and other settings across the U.S. with Registered Nurses, Physical/Occupational Therapists and other professionals on a long-term lease basis. They can be hired full time. Our team has successfully placed hundreds of satisfied Nurses and other healthcare professionals since 2005.
For Organizations
We have an exclusive Philippines-based recruitment company in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. As of 2023 the majority of our healthcare professionals are recruited from the Philippines, but UMHR has recently opened two offices in Africa.
All nurses are qualified based on USA requirements. The U.S. nursing board certifies that the Philippine education system for nurses is valid and equivalent to that in the states.
Yes, our healthcare professionals most often come with an Illinois license, as they must declare a state when they take the NCLEX. We then transfer the license to other states.
All Nurses from other countries are RN’s by law. LPN’s are not allowed to emigrate to the states as of 2023.
The average wait time is now 12 months or longer due to the process of hiring internationally and waiting for U.S. Visas.
UMHR charges a reservation fee per nurse at contract signing. When UMHR nurses are delivered, a placement fee per nurse is billed to cover legal expenses, Philippine processing, airfare, and other costs that we incur. UMHR earns a return by charging a per-hour markup rate.
By law, nurses must earn the higher of the prevailing wage for Cook County, IL (Chicago) and the county in which they will work. Currently, the prevailing wage is $30/hr for Cook County, IL, and changes each July 1st.
We strongly encourage clients to agree to pay UMHR professionals at the market rate within a profession, to keep recruits content and feeling like they are a valued part of a client’s team.
Our healthcare professionals will work any shift that a client requires. During recruitment, all nurses are informed that they could work any shift. Their contract is for full-time hours for a guaranteed 3-year contract.
By rule, clients are required to provide two months of free housing. It can be on the client’s campus or nearby. After that, nurses will find their own housing with our help – or the help of their colleagues.
If the relationship between the client and the healthcare professional is not satisfactory, then UMHR offers a 6-month replacement guarantee.
For Healthcare Professionals
With our Philippines-based Partner, Aguinaldo Recruitment, we are primarily recruiting and hiring registered nurses; however, we also staff nursing assistants, physical therapists, lab techs, domestic helpers, and other healthcare professionals upon the requests of our clients in the U.S.
As of 2023, the majority of our healthcare professionals are recruited from the Philippines. However, as of late 2022, our Partner agency, Aguinaldo Recruitment, has opened offices in Africa, and we are hiring both Nurses and Caregivers/Nursing Assistants.
Our team will help professionals in preparing for their NCLEX, their English proficiency exams, and the processing of required documents.
To be recruited for our US-based Partners, healthcare professionals must possess
- Educational Equivalency to US Standards.
- English proficiency verified by examination.
- US Licensure Examination including the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). We offer free NCLEX reviews.
Yes – but clinical experience during college coursework qualifies, as does recent volunteer experience. We welcome recent graduates and current students to apply.
Applications can be filed online or at our Partner office in Manila. Following the completed application, one of our staff members will contact you to help you understand the steps and requirements. We make the process easy.
We will have recruitment specialists assigned to help you complete every step of the immigration process. They will notify you of what files are necessary to complete and will assist you in processing your VISA application.
Due to changing policies and legislation, we are not able to guarantee a specific time frame that your visa petition will be filed and/or approved in. We aim to complete the immigration process in as little as 9 months and collaborate with our legal team to make the process a smooth and reliable one. Please contact our Manila office for recent updates.
Neither UMHR or Aguinaldo Recruitment will charge you any fees – but there are some small fees that you will need to pay directly to service providers, including a medical exam. Your Aguinaldo team members will inform you as to any & all costs before you sign anything. You will not be required to pay for airfare, legal fees, placement fees and some other costs.
Yes, our recruitment specialists stay in contact with our hired professionals to make sure they are adapting and happy in their new roles and environment.
United Methodist Healthcare Recruitment, provides free housing for the first two months post-arrival in America. UMHR staff will assist nurses in registering for additional documents like their social security card, provide the choice of Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, and issue your paychecks.
United Methodist Healthcare Recruitment has clients in over 18 states – so there are many potential placement sites. Your initial adjustment period may take place in Chicago, Illinois or your new workplace may provide housing onsite in their State.
Yes, we encourage our healthcare professionals to bring their spouses and/or children with them. To assist professionals in this process, we will help with filing eligible family members’ visa petitions. The associated visa filing fees will be due retrospectively. We do ask that healthcare professionals wait 6 months to bring family members so that they can adjust to their new life and role first.
If the relationship between the client and the healthcare professional is not satisfactory, then UMHR assists the healthcare professional in finding a replacement role with a new client.
If you have more questions, please contact the United Methodist Healthcare Recruitment team.