The United States government has reversed its suspension on visa processing for foreign-trained physicians, clearing the way for doctors from Nigeria and about 38 other countries to proceed with their applications.
According to a report by The New York Times, the restriction introduced in January had stalled decisions on visa renewals, work authorisations, and permanent residency applications for citizens of nearly 39 countries under the US travel ban framework, leaving many doctors unable to practise.
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The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has now updated its policy to exclude medical practitioners from the suspension, allowing their applications to move forward.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the change, stating that applications involving physicians will continue to be processed.
The policy shift comes amid a growing shortage of doctors in the US, estimated at around 65,000, with projections indicating the gap could widen in the coming years.
Internationally trained doctors make up roughly a quarter of the US healthcare workforce, with many serving in primary care roles, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
The earlier suspension had forced some physicians onto administrative leave, while others faced the risk of losing their jobs due to prolonged processing delays.
With visa processing now reinstated, the decision is expected to ease staffing pressures in hospitals and enable affected doctors, including Nigerians, to resume their duties.
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