The United States has resumed visa processing for Nigerian and other foreign doctors.
They have now make a u-turn on a policy that had frozen applications under its travel ban system, according to The New York Times.
The report said the earlier policy, introduced in January, halted decisions on visa extensions, work permits and green cards for citizens of about 39 countries, leaving many foreign-trained physicians unable to work.
However, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has updated its guidelines to exempt medical doctors from the restriction, allowing their applications to proceed.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the development to the NYT, stating that “applications associated with medical physicians will continue processing.”
The move comes amid a growing shortage of healthcare workers in the United States, where authorities estimate a deficit of about 65,000 doctors, a figure expected to rise in the coming years.
Foreign-trained doctors make up about a quarter of the US medical workforce, with many serving in primary care roles in underserved communities.
Some affected doctors were said to have been placed on administrative leave, while others faced the risk of losing their jobs because of delays in immigration approvals.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities had also raised concerns over the impact of the policy on medical staffing, especially in areas already struggling with a shortage of doctors.
The decision comes amid a growing shortage of healthcare workers in the United States.
Authorities estimate that the country currently faces a deficit of about 65,000 doctors, with the figure expected to rise in the coming years.
Foreign-trained doctors account for about a quarter of the US medical workforce, with many serving in primary care roles and in underserved communities.
The policy reversal is expected to ease pressure on hospitals and allow affected doctors to continue working while their immigration applications are processed.
It also gives Nigerian and other foreign physicians a clearer path to renew their documents or continue with pending applications without being caught in the earlier processing freeze.