U.S. agencies resume visa processing for foreign doctors
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 3
U.S. agencies resume visa processing for foreign doctors
7 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 3
The Department of Homeland Security and USCIS quietly lifted a January processing freeze affecting citizens of 39 countries, allowing physicians to receive visa renewals, work permits and green cards.
The hold had put some doctors on administrative leave at hospitals and left others at risk of being unable to keep working in the United States.
The reversal comes as the US faces a shortage of about 65,000 physicians, with foreign doctors heavily represented in primary care fields such as family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics.
How might ongoing visa delays and high fees for foreign doctors affect the U.S. physician shortage in the next decade?
What are the ethical implications of recruiting international doctors to solve U.S. shortages when their home countries also face crises?
Could new state licensing reforms and national interest waivers finally close the healthcare gap in rural and underserved areas?
The 65,000-Doctor Shortage Deepens: How Visa Backlogs and a $100,000 H-1B Fee Threaten U.S. Healthcare Access by July 2026
Overview
The U.S. healthcare system is facing a severe crisis as visa processing backlogs and restrictive policies threaten the retention of international medical graduates (IMGs), who are vital to underserved communities. Delays in the HHS Exchange Visitor Program and expanded USCIS holds on nationals from 39 countries are forcing many foreign doctors out of their jobs, worsening an existing shortage of 65,000 physicians. The introduction of a $100,000 H-1B visa fee further strains hospitals, making it unaffordable to retain or rehire these doctors. Meanwhile, Canada’s expedited licensing and immigration pathways are attracting U.S.-trained physicians, accelerating a brain drain that risks deepening healthcare disparities unless urgent reforms are enacted.