(a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this section, a consular officer must not issue a visa to any alien seeking admission to the United States for the purpose of performing services in a health care occupation, other than as a physician, unless, in addition to meeting all other requirements of law and regulation, the alien provides to the officer a certification issued by the Commission On Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or another credentialing service that has been approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security for such purpose, which certificate complies with the provisions of sections 212(a)(5)(C) and 212(r) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)(C) and 8 U.S.C. 1182(r), respectively, and the regulations found at 8 CFR 212.15.

(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to an alien:

(1) Seeking to enter the United States in order to perform services in a non-clinical health care occupation as described in 8 CFR 212.15(b)(1); or

(2) Who is the immigrant or nonimmigrant spouse or child of a foreign health care worker and who is seeking to accompany or follow to join as a derivative applicant the principal alien to whom this section applies; or

(3) Who is applying for an immigrant or a nonimmigrant visa for any purpose other than for the purpose of seeking entry into the United States in order to perform health care services as described in 8 CFR 212.15.