Trump Immigration Policy Forces Out Foreign Doctors From 39 Countries
A Trump administration immigration policy is forcing foreign doctors from 39 countries to stop working in U.S. hospitals. The visa processing freeze has left doctors waiting months for work permits, even after hospitals paid $2,965 fees for fast-track applications that should take two weeks.
Foreign doctors who have lived and worked in the United States for years are being forced to leave their jobs due to a Trump administration visa policy that has essentially frozen work permit processing.
More than a dozen foreign physicians told POLITICO the policy is creating chaos in their lives and worsening chronic hospital staffing shortages. Doctors from 39 countries are affected by the visa processing delays.
Hospitals have paid $2,965 fees to fast-track visa applications for their foreign doctors, a process that normally takes two weeks. But months have passed without updates on applications, leaving doctors unable to work legally.
The American Medical Association and American College of Physicians have urged the government to create a broad national interest exemption for physicians. A January memo mentions individual exemptions may be possible, but doctors say they haven't received clear guidance.
The Department of Homeland Security hasn't said how long the pause will last or whether it will consider exemptions for healthcare workers.
This makes hospital staff shortages worse when many Americans already struggle to find doctors. Foreign doctors help fill critical gaps in U.S. healthcare, especially in rural areas and emergency rooms where American-trained doctors are scarce.
Watch for potential exemptions for healthcare workers and how long the visa processing freeze continues.
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