U.S. Department of Homeland Security Reverses Visa Freeze for Physicians

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has resumed processing visas and work permits for physicians after an update on its website, ending a months‑long pause that affected thousands of international clinicians. The freeze stemmed from the federal travel‑ban policy, which halted visa extensions, work permits, and green card decisions for citizens of 39 countries.

Becker's Clinical Leadership reported that even though the ban did not apply to physicians already in the U.S., USCIS still paused renewals, impacting more than 10,000 H‑1B physicians, 17,000 J‑1 physicians, and thousands of nurses and other healthcare workers. Many were placed on administrative leave while waiting for updates.

PAMED President Arvind R. Cavale, MD, raised these concerns in an April Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette op‑ed on the impact of the workforce shortages.

National groups have also raised concerns about the federal increase of the H‑1B application fee to $100,000.  In March, H.R.7961 H–1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act was introduced to exempt healthcare workers from the fee and is currently with   the House Judiciary Committee.

The resumption of processing is expected to ease staffing pressures and reduce uncertainty for hospitals and practices across Pennsylvania and the nation.