Comparison guide
VisaKey vs TruMerit (CGFNS) VisaScreen
Last updated: · By The Evaluation Company
VisaKey and TruMerit VisaScreen 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. CGFNS (now TruMerit) calls it VisaScreen. The Evaluation Company calls it VisaKey. The certificate is the same. The price, the process, and the name are not.
For years CGFNS was the default provider — the incumbent nurses were told to use. That history is why packets still say "VisaScreen" even when they mean the federal certificate, not one company's brand. VisaKey is the modern alternative: lower published price, a 10-business-day review included after your file is complete, and a portal built for nurses and the organizations that sponsor them.
Same certificate. Different price and process.
The federal requirement does not change by brand name. What you pay, how long you wait, and how easy the application is do.
Lower price
VisaKey Application
$675
one-time · 10 business days included
$65 less than VisaScreen before their +$650 expedite
TruMerit VisaScreen
$740
initial · +$650 expedite → $1,390 · CES separate ($485+)
| Topic | VisaKey (TEC) | TruMerit VisaScreen |
|---|---|---|
| Same federal certificate? | Yes. Both are the Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate for nurses seeking a U.S. occupational visa. | |
| Brand name | VisaKey | VisaScreen® / ICHP® (CGFNS, now TruMerit) |
| Provider | The Evaluation Company (NACES® since 1996) | TruMerit™ (formerly CGFNS), est. 1977 |
| Published price | $675$65 less One-time · 10-day path included · Bundle $1,050 · NCA $400 | $740initial +$650 expedite ($1,390 total) · Renewal $475 · Reprocess $250 · CES separate at $485+ |
| Course analysis (NCA / CES) | NCA ($400) — the same product as a CES. We also accept a completed CGFNS CES so you skip buying ours. | CES Professional Report $485+ — the same product as an NCA. They do not accept a VisaKey NCA. |
| Processing speed | ~10 business days after your file is complete — included in $675 | Fast once docs arrive (90% ≤ 3.5 days) — but ~14 weeks average waiting for primary-source documents; +$650 expedite is optional |
| What is screened | Education, licensure, English proficiency, and qualifying exam (NCLEX® or equivalent) | Education, licensure, English proficiency, and qualifying exam |
| Certificate | Digital + QR verification included | Digital ICHP® + QR standard; paper available for an extra fee |
| Applicant UX | Guided upload checklist, live status, messaging, certificate download | TruMerit Connect account + PDF certificate download |
| Communication | Shared status (uploaded → under review → completed) for nurses and sponsors | Outstanding requirements via TruMerit's app; expedite speeds notices |
| Org / sponsors | Sponsor portal: 1-click invites, multi-case dashboard, shared invoices | CES Connect for state boards; no recruiter multi-case sponsor portal |
| Best when | You want the same federal certificate — faster, cheaper, and easier to track | You already started a VisaScreen case, or a party insists on their brand name |
TruMerit figures above are taken from TruMerit's published Fee Schedule, VisaScreen service page, and processing times (reviewed August 2026). VisaKey prices are current marketing display amounts.
Two products nurses confuse: the certificate vs the course analysis
Most internationally educated nurses need both — but they are not the same document, and they are not interchangeable with each other.
- VisaKey / VisaScreen certificate — the Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate for a U.S. occupational visa. Same service, different brand names.
- NCA / CES report — the course-by-course nursing analysis state boards use for competency. Same service, different brand names. Needed before or alongside the certificate for many licensure pathways.
VisaKey sells the certificate, a standalone NCA ($400), and a VisaKey + NCA bundle ($1,050) so you can get both in one place. If you already paid CGFNS for a CES, bring it — we accept it. They will not accept our NCA in return. Also comparing IEE GlobalBridge or Josef Silny Visa4Nurses? Those are the same federal certificate too. For a plain-language overview, see What is VisaKey?.
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 instead of scattered email threads
- Billing that scales — consolidate sponsored cases with invoice-friendly account workflows
- Modern UI — a nurse- focused product experience your ops team can actually learn in minutes
When VisaKey is the better choice
- You need the Section 343 certificate — whether your packet says VisaKey, VisaScreen, or Health Care Worker certificate
- You want the same certificate at a lower published price, with 10-day review included
- You already have a TruMerit/CGFNS CES and want to finish the federal certificate without buying another course analysis
- You still need the course analysis and want a standalone NCA or the VisaKey + NCA bundle from one provider
- An employer or recruiter will sponsor cases through the VisaKey organization portal
If a petition or employer names CGFNS 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 TruMerit VisaScreen the same thing?
Yes. VisaKey and VisaScreen 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. CGFNS (now TruMerit) calls it VisaScreen. The Evaluation Company calls it VisaKey. The legal requirement is the same; the brand name, price, and process are not.
Is a VisaKey NCA the same as a CGFNS CES report?
Yes. A Nursing Course Analysis (NCA) and a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) report are the same course-by-course nursing analysis under different names. State boards use this report to assess competency. It is a separate product from the VisaKey / VisaScreen certificate, and many nurses need it before or alongside the federal certificate.
Does VisaKey accept a TruMerit or CGFNS CES report?
Yes. VisaKey accepts a completed TruMerit/CGFNS CES in place of our NCA, so you do not buy the same course analysis twice. CGFNS does not accept a VisaKey NCA in place of their CES. If you already have a CES, start VisaKey and upload it. If you do not, order a standalone NCA or the VisaKey + NCA bundle.
If I already have a CES, do I still need VisaKey?
Usually yes, if you need the federal occupational-visa certificate. A CES / NCA is the course analysis for state boards. VisaKey / VisaScreen is the Section 343 certificate for USCIS. A CES replaces the NCA purchase — not the VisaKey certificate.
Why choose VisaKey instead of CGFNS VisaScreen?
Because the certificate is the same, the decision is price and process. VisaKey publishes a lower application price, includes a 10-business-day review after your file is complete (no $650 expedite add-on), and uses a modern portal with live status for nurses and sponsors. CGFNS was the long-time incumbent — slower systems, higher published fees, and a separate CES purchase they will not replace with a VisaKey NCA.
My packet says VisaScreen. Can I still use VisaKey?
Often yes. Many packets still say VisaScreen because CGFNS was the default provider for years. That is their brand name for the Section 343 certificate, not a unique legal product. If instructions name a specific issuer, ask whether any approved Health Care Worker certificate is accepted.
Get the same certificate — without the incumbent markup
Already have a TruMerit/CGFNS CES? Bring it and skip a duplicate NCA. Need both the federal certificate and the course analysis? Choose the VisaKey + NCA bundle ($1,050). Organizations can sponsor applicants from the portal.