The United States has lifted a policy that suspended visa processing for foreign-trained doctors, paving the way for physicians from Nigeria and about 38 other countries to resume their applications.
According to a report by The New York Times, the restriction, introduced in January, had halted decisions on visa extensions, work permits, and green cards for citizens affected by the US travel ban system.
The policy had left several doctors in uncertainty, with some placed on administrative leave, while others faced the risk of losing their jobs due to delays in approvals.
However, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has now updated its guidelines, exempting medical doctors from the freeze and allowing their applications to proceed.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that applications involving medical physicians will continue to be processed under the revised directive.
The decision comes amid a growing healthcare staffing shortage in the United States, where authorities estimate a deficit of about 65,000 doctors, a figure projected to rise in the coming years.
Foreign-trained doctors account for approximately a quarter of the US medical workforce, with many serving in primary healthcare roles, especially in rural and underserved communities.
