RismadarVoice Reporters
May 9, 2026
The United States has begun selectively easing restrictions on immigration applications, allowing medical doctors with pending visa and green card cases to have their files reviewed, while maintaining broader restrictions affecting thousands of other foreign nationals.
The policy shift, introduced under the Trump administration, comes after months of pressure from medical associations and immigration attorneys who warned that prolonged delays were worsening physician shortages, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
Under the revised guidance, immigration authorities may now resume processing applications involving physicians, including those seeking permanent residency or work authorisation. However, officials emphasise that the change does not guarantee approval of any individual case.
One of the doctors affected by the earlier suspension is Libyan-born pulmonologist and intensive care specialist Faysal Alghoula, who treats an estimated 1,000 patients across parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. He has been unable to renew his green card following a broad administrative pause on applications from applicants in several countries designated as high-risk.
Alghoula said delays in processing have heightened uncertainty for both him and his patients, noting long waiting times for specialist care in the region.
“It is about four to five months wait to get the pulmonologist here,” he said, highlighting the strain on local healthcare services.
Healthcare professionals and advocacy groups argue that foreign-trained doctors make up a significant share of the medical workforce in rural America, where recruitment challenges remain persistent.
Despite the exemption for physicians, the broader suspension on immigration processing remains in effect for applicants from dozens of countries, including researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Many of them continue to face stalled applications for employment authorisation, residency permits, and travel documentation.
Immigration attorneys say the policy landscape remains unpredictable, with limited clarity on how quickly medical applications will be processed or whether other professional categories may receive similar exemptions.
“There are lots of bans and pauses happening at once,” said one immigration lawyer, describing the situation as part of a broader tightening of immigration enforcement and vetting procedures.
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the ongoing restrictions, stating they are intended to ensure more rigorous screening of applicants following concerns about previous vetting processes. However, critics argue the measures are creating long-term disruptions for legal immigrants and U.S. employers reliant on skilled foreign labour.
For many affected individuals, the uncertainty extends beyond professional consequences, with delays in employment authorisation also impacting housing stability, healthcare access, and family reunification.
While the exemption for doctors has been welcomed by healthcare stakeholders, its practical impact remains unclear as immigration agencies work through significant backlogs accumulated during the suspension period.
