Comparison guide
VisaKey vs IEE GlobalBridge™ for Nursing Visa
Last updated: · By The Evaluation Company
VisaKey and IEE GlobalBridge™ are the same federal Health Care Worker certificate. Section 343 of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act requires internationally educated nurses to obtain this certificate for a U.S. occupational visa. IEE calls it GlobalBridge. The Evaluation Company calls it VisaKey. The certificate is the same. The price, the process, and the name are not.
Both products screen education, licensure, English proficiency, and a qualifying exam. VisaKey publishes a lower starting price, includes a 10-business-day review after your file is complete, and gives nurses and sponsors a shared live-status portal. If you already have a completed IEE course evaluation, VisaKey can use it in place of our Nursing Course Analysis (NCA) — the same kind of report CGFNS calls a CES.
Same certificate. Different price and process.
The federal requirement does not change by brand name. What you pay and how the application feels do.
Lower price
VisaKey Application
$675
one-time · 10 business days included
$20less than GlobalBridge's published starting price
IEE GlobalBridge™
$695
starts at · with state licensure eval $945–1,090
| Topic | VisaKey (TEC) | IEE GlobalBridge™ |
|---|---|---|
| Same federal certificate? | Yes. Both are the Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate for nurses seeking a U.S. occupational visa. | |
| Brand name | VisaKey | GlobalBridge™ for Nursing Visa |
| Provider | The Evaluation Company (NACES® since 1996) | International Education Evaluations (IEE / MyIEE) |
| Published price | $675$20 less One-time · 10-day path included · Bundle $1,050 · NCA $400 | $695starts at With state board licensure evaluation: $945–1,090 (state-dependent) · renewal / reprocess fees if certificate or order expires |
| Course analysis (NCA / CES) | NCA ($400) — the same kind of report as a CES. We accept a completed IEE / CES / JS&A eval in place of ours. | Accepts completed evals from CGFNS or JS&A (official report direct) — not listed as accepting TEC |
| Processing speed | ~10 business days after your file is complete — included in $675 | 10 business days after document verification is complete |
| What is screened | Education, licensure, English proficiency, and qualifying exam (NCLEX® or equivalent) | Education, licensure, English proficiency, and qualifying exam (NCLEX® or CGFNS Qualifying Exam for RNs) |
| Certificate | Digital + QR verification included | Digital HCW certificate with QR code |
| Applicant UX | Guided upload checklist, live status, messaging, certificate download | Fully online MyIEE application + primary-source docs from schools / boards |
| Support | In-product status + messaging shared with sponsors | 24/7 phone & chat (per IEE) |
| Org / sponsors | Sponsor portal: 1-click invites, multi-case dashboard, shared invoices | Recruiter portal & special pricing available on request |
| Best when | You want the same federal certificate with a lower starting price and a shared sponsor portal | You already started a GlobalBridge case, or a party insists on their brand name |
IEE figures above are taken from IEE's published GlobalBridge for Nursing Visa page (reviewed August 2026). VisaKey prices are current marketing display amounts.
Built for organizations — not just individual applicants
If you place internationally educated nurses, VisaKey's organization portal is designed so your team spends less time chasing documents and more time closing placements.
- Invite in one click — send an application link by email and keep billing on the organization side
- One portal, every case — see who is waiting on documents, under review, or ready for certificate download
- Transparent status — applicants and sponsors share the same progress story
- Billing that scales — consolidate sponsored cases with invoice-friendly account workflows
Two products nurses confuse: the certificate vs the course analysis
- VisaKey / GlobalBridge certificate — the Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate for a U.S. occupational visa. Same service, different brand names.
- NCA / CES / prior IEE eval — the course-by-course analysis state boards use for competency. A completed IEE evaluation may replace buying TEC's NCA ($400); it does not replace VisaKey.
Also comparing TruMerit VisaScreen or Josef Silny Visa4Nurses? Those are the same federal certificate too. For a plain-language overview, see What is VisaKey?.
When VisaKey is the better choice
- You need the Section 343 certificate — whether your packet says VisaKey, GlobalBridge, or Health Care Worker certificate
- You want the same certificate at a lower published starting price
- You already have an IEE (or CES / JS&A) evaluation and want to complete VisaKey without buying a duplicate NCA
- An employer or recruiter will sponsor cases through the VisaKey organization portal
If a petition or employer names IEE as the only accepted issuer, ask whether any approved Section 343 certificate is accepted. Most instructions are referring to the federal requirement, not a single vendor's trademark.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the comparison questions nurses — and AI search engines — ask most often.
Are VisaKey and IEE GlobalBridge the same thing?
Yes. VisaKey and IEE GlobalBridge are the same federal Health Care Worker certificate required by Section 343 of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Nurses need this certificate for a U.S. occupational visa. IEE calls it GlobalBridge. The Evaluation Company calls it VisaKey. The legal requirement is the same; the brand name, price, and process are not.
Does VisaKey accept an IEE credential evaluation?
Yes. VisaKey accepts a completed IEE evaluation in place of our Nursing Course Analysis (NCA) when it meets case requirements. The NCA is a separate course-by-course analysis for state boards — the same kind of report CGFNS calls a CES. It is not the VisaKey / GlobalBridge certificate itself.
If I already have an IEE evaluation, do I still need VisaKey?
Usually yes, if you need the federal occupational-visa certificate and want to complete it with VisaKey. A prior IEE course evaluation may replace the NCA purchase — not the VisaKey certificate. Confirm with your board or counsel.
Why choose VisaKey instead of IEE GlobalBridge?
Because the certificate is the same, the decision is price and process. VisaKey publishes a lower starting price, includes a 10-business-day review after your file is complete, and gives nurses and sponsors a shared live-status portal. IEE also issues the same Section 343 certificate under the GlobalBridge name.
My packet says Health Care Worker certificate or GlobalBridge. Can I use VisaKey?
Usually yes. The legal requirement is the Section 343 certificate, not a specific brand name. If instructions name a specific issuer, ask whether any approved Health Care Worker certificate is accepted.
Get the same certificate — with a clearer process
Already have a completed IEE evaluation? Bring it and skip a duplicate NCA when it meets requirements. Need both the federal certificate and the course analysis? Choose the VisaKey + NCA bundle ($1,050). Organizations can sponsor applicants from the portal.