The United States has rolled back a policy that paused visa processing for foreign-trained doctors, allowing physicians from Nigeria and about 38 other countries to continue their applications.
According to a report by The New York Times, the earlier restriction, introduced in January, had stopped decisions on visa renewals, work permits, and green cards for citizens of nearly 39 countries under the US travel ban system.
The move left many foreign-trained doctors unable to practise.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has now revised its guidelines to exclude medical doctors from the freeze, enabling their applications to proceed.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the development, stating that, “Applications associated with medical physicians will continue processing.”
The policy reversal comes amid a growing healthcare staffing crisis in the US, where authorities estimate a shortage of about 65,000 doctors—a gap expected to increase in the coming years.
Foreign-trained physicians make up roughly a quarter of the US medical workforce, with many serving in primary care roles, especially in rural and underserved communities.
The earlier visa freeze had forced some doctors into administrative leave, while others faced potential job losses due to delayed approvals.
With processing now resumed, the move is expected to reduce pressure on hospitals and allow affected doctors, including Nigerians, to continue their practice.
