U.S. Resumes Visa Processing for Foreign Doctors

The United States has resumed visa processing for foreign-trained doctors, including those from Nigeria, as reported by the New York Times. This decision reverses a policy introduced in January that had frozen visa applications for medical professionals from 39 countries, leaving many unable to work.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its guidelines to exempt medical doctors from previous restrictions, allowing their applications to proceed.

A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed this development. The move comes amid a growing shortage of healthcare workers in the U.S., with an estimated deficit of 65,000 doctors expected to rise in the coming years.

Foreign-trained doctors play a crucial role in the U.S. healthcare workforce, particularly in primary care for underserved communities. The previous freeze had forced some doctors into administrative leave and put others at risk of losing their jobs due to delays in visa approvals.