WASHINGTON, United States. The United States resumed visa processing for Nigerian and other foreign doctors on Sunday, reversing a prior policy that suspended applications under the national travel ban system.
The New York Times published the report after the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services updated internal guidelines to exempt medical professionals from the restriction.
Okay News reports that a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the policy adjustment and said, “applications associated with medical physicians will continue processing.”
The original freeze, implemented in January, halted decisions regarding visa extensions, work permits, and green cards for citizens from 39 countries. The suspension forced affected doctors onto administrative leave and jeopardized employment statuses due to delayed visa approvals.
Foreign-trained physicians currently constitute one quarter of the medical workforce in the United States, where health authorities estimate a national deficit of 65,000 doctors.
