The US government has resumed visa processing for foreign doctors from countries under entry restrictions, according to confirmed reports. While maintaining its tough immigration stance, Washington has effectively carved out an exception for medical personnel.
According to The New York Times on Wednesday, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), recently revised its website without a formal announcement, lifting the suspension of visa reviews for doctors from certain countries.
The DHS also stated that "applications related to medical personnel will continue to be processed," effectively acknowledging the resumption of visa and work permit issuance for foreign doctors.
In January, the United States had fully suspended visa extensions, work permits, and permanent residency reviews for nationals from 39 countries, including those in Africa and the Middle East. The measure led to foreign doctors working in the US being excluded from hospitals or temporarily detained, causing significant disruption in the medical field.
"Shortage of 65,000 Doctors"…Immigration Policy Yields to Reality
The move is seen as a response to the chronic shortage of physicians, which has become increasingly difficult to ignore. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) estimates a current shortfall of approximately 65,000 doctors, with the workforce crunch expected to worsen over the next decade due to aging and rising retirement rates.
The US healthcare system is particularly reliant on foreign-born physicians. According to the report, about one-quarter of all doctors in the country are foreign-born, and more than 60 percent of them work in primary care fields such as family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. These areas are typically avoided by US-trained doctors due to demanding workloads and relatively low compensation.
Dr. Rebecca Andrews, chair of the American College of Physicians (ACP) board of regents, said, "I am pleased that the US government has taken steps to retain dedicated foreign doctors," adding, "We must attract the most capable physicians regardless of their origin." She urged the normalization of visa procedures.
