The United States has recommenced visa processing for Nigerian and other foreign medical doctors after rolling back a condition that had earlier slowed down immigration-related applications linked to travel ban policies.
Per The New York Times, the change now allows affected doctors to continue with applications for visa extensions, work permits, and green cards that had previously been paused.
The earlier policy, introduced in January, had reportedly affected applicants from about 39 countries. It led to delays in several immigration processes and left many foreign-trained doctors unsure about their job status and future in the US.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has now updated its guidance, removing medical doctors from the list of those affected by the restriction.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the update, saying, “Applications associated with medical physicians will continue processing.”
The reversal is expected to ease pressure on foreign doctors, including Nigerians, whose applications were stalled under the previous policy.
Before the change, the freeze was said to have affected visa renewals, work permits, and green card applications. Some doctors reportedly faced administrative leave, while others risked job losses due to unresolved immigration status.
Hospitals and healthcare providers had raised concerns about staffing shortages, especially in areas already struggling with a lack of medical personnel.
The decision also comes at a time when the United States is facing a shortage of healthcare workers. Officials estimate a deficit of about 65,000 doctors, a number expected to increase in the coming years.
Foreign-trained doctors make up roughly a quarter of the US medical workforce, with many working in primary care and in underserved communities.
With the policy now reversed, affected doctors are expected to continue working while their immigration applications are processed, providing relief to both healthcare workers and hospitals relying on their services.
