PT Camille's Review on Grandison's EB-2 Visa Pathway for PTs

Part 1: Discovering Grandison Before the Pandemic

Question: How did you first find out about Grandison, and what made you decide to apply with them?

Answer: My story with them goes back to 2020. I already had some background knowledge and knew it was a placement agency [00:24]. However, I didn’t fully trust them at first because no one around me had vouched for Grandison at the time [00:35].

But then, I met a US-licensed Physical Therapist (USPT) who was a family friend and had just returned home [00:42]. She wasn’t actually with Grandison herself, but she had heard a lot of good things about this agency from her friends and coworkers [00:52]. This was all before the pandemic [01:00]. When she found out I had passed my exams, she asked, “Do you want to try? I know people there and they successfully made it over. She is living the American dream and the PT dream via Grandison.” [01:05] She gave me a contact, and since we trusted our family friend and her fellow PT, we decided to go for it [01:20].

Part 2: Navigating the Pandemic, H-1B, and the tDPT Program

Question: How did your processing continue once the pandemic hit, and what programs helped secure your journey?

Answer: I took my exam in January, met her in February, and right after that, the pandemic hit [01:27]. For a few months, I was only about 70% convinced [01:35]. But during the pandemic, I realized I needed to take definitive steps to move forward rather than just treat it like a vacation [01:35].

I talked to recruiters like Sir Nathan Panon, Sir Richard, and Sir Albert [01:51]. What ultimately convinced me to sign up was their Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) program and the fact that they offered a safety net through the H-1B visa back then [02:00]. They introduced me to all the options and explained the differences, so I was fully informed about what would happen if I didn’t win the H-1B lottery versus if I did [02:07].

The DPT program was a massive help. While studying through Arcadia University, I encountered some difficulties and faced some delays, but Grandison was excellent at following through with my next steps [02:23]. You are never left in the dark with them. Even though everything is managed online, you don’t feel lost or feel the need to physically go to an office every time you have a question [02:39]. They have many agents you can ask, though Sir Albert was the one specifically focused on me [02:52].

Part 3: Overcoming Visa Retrogression and Agency Abandonment

Question: How did Grandison manage your application during the periods of visa retrogression?

Answer: After I finished my tDPT, visa retrogression hit around 2023 and 2024 [02:52]. But during that time, Grandison organized a lot of events [03:08]. The owners and the CEO came over to personally explain how the retrogression worked [03:08]. This completely assured us that we wouldn’t be abandoned [03:14].

Abandonment is a massive issue with medical deployment agencies; in fact, several other agencies actually closed down right before or during that retrogression period [03:14]. Grandison, however, remained consistent and kept their programs running smoothly [03:31]. They maintained the long-term perspective that once retrogression cleared, US facilities would immediately need our workforce [03:39].

Part 4: The H-1B Lottery vs. the EB-2 Green Card Pathway

Question: What happened when your visa papers were finally processed, and how did Grandison guide you between the H-1B and EB-2 options? A Review on Grandison’s EB-2 Visa Pathway for PTs

Answer: By 2025, everything came together [03:45]. I was actually selected in the H-1B lottery in April [03:45]. Before that happened, I told them I didn’t want to go through the lottery anymore because my EB-2 immigrant visa priority date was getting very close [03:58].

However, they advised me to still push through with the H-1B because priority dates fluctuate, and you might think you are about to get your green card only to miss it by a single day due to a fresh retrogression [04:06]. So we pushed the H-1B. I was selected, and the very next day after my H-1B petition was approved, my EB-2 visa letter arrived [04:21]. Grandison immediately pushed for me to continue with the EB-2 pathway instead, which is much better because it grants a direct Green Card [04:27].

Part 5: Warnings Against Going Direct Hire or Extralegal Pathways

Question: What is your advice for foreign physical therapists considering direct-hire options or alternative visa routes?

Answer: My advice to those wanting to go directly to a US employer is to be very careful [04:35]. Direct employers often lack the legal machinery to process everything for a foreign graduate, leading to widespread abandonment issues [04:42]. There is an overwhelming amount of paperwork required, and individual hospital facilities do not have dedicated offices to cater to the unique documentation needs of a Filipino or foreign graduate who has no legal status in the US yet [04:51].

Additionally, some people get tempted to go over on a tourist visa to take their exams and then stay illegally (TNT) [05:01]. Do not do that. USCIS is incredibly strict with those things [05:17]. It is much better to trust the legitimate process [05:17].

We are so happy with Grandison because an EB-2 green card process is something you cannot simply buy; it is hard to acquire, and they handled it the absolute most legal way possible [05:25]. They are completely transparent about your work expectations, your destination, your salary, and the prevailing wage—which you can verify online yourself [05:50].

Part 6: Encouragement for PLM Scholars and Future USPTs

Question: As a PLM scholar, what advice do you have for under-privileged graduates and fellow PTs?

Answer: To my fellow PLM Mayors who are physical therapists: I know our journey is long because we have to constantly maintain high grades to stay in the program and pass [06:07]. My biggest piece of advice is to keep your options open and never stop practicing [06:14]. Some people give up and shift careers entirely, but PTs are in massive demand globally [06:25]. In the US, Physical Therapy falls under Schedule A, meaning the immigration process is significantly faster, much like it is for nurses [06:35].

If you want to move to the US and don’t hold a foreign citizenship, Grandison is a beautiful option [06:41]. When you study at a public university like PLM, you are a scholar and might come from an under-privileged background, but Grandison makes you feel entirely guided [06:51]. Even though I didn’t do my initial board review with them, they fully supported me from the moment I signed up [07:01]. Plus, their partner review coordinator, Ma’am Jam, used to be our teacher at PLM, so you know you are in safe hands for your endorsements and training [07:07].

If you are planning to go abroad, don’t write off the US in favor of places like Australia or the UK [07:24]. The US is highly advisable because if you want to pursue postgraduate studies or get your Doctorate, the absolute best clinical programs are located there [07:39].

Let’s be grand with Grandison! [07:59]