Radiologists say visa-processing delays could pose potential patient care crisis

Radiologists and other physicians say that ongoing visa-processing delays could potentially pose a crisis for patient care. 

The American College of Radiology and other medical societies recently wrote to the secretaries of State and Homeland Security to voice their concern about ongoing staffing issues. They note that the administration had offered assurances in late April that physician immigration cases would no longer be subject to broad adjudicative holds. 

However, two months later, radiologists and other docs continue to face challenges entering the country. These delays are becoming more alarming, given that many residencies begin a new academic year on July 1, with trainees often reporting for orientation before that official start date. 

“Physicians, graduate medical education programs, and other stakeholders continue to experience significant uncertainty regarding how this policy change is being implemented across agencies, service centers, and consular posts,” ACR and 20 other physician societies wrote to Marco Rubio and Markwayne Mullin on June 22. “In many cases, physicians remain in professional and personal limbo, with applications pending for months and no clear timeline for resolution despite compliance with all legal requirements.”

Others signing the letter included the American Medical Association, Medical Group Management Association, and specialty societies representing cardiologists, neurologists, family physicians, and more. ACR et al. said they have heard directly from physicians and residency programs that visa cases remain stalled and individuals have received “little or no follow-up” from agencies since the April 30 announcement from the administration. 

“While we recognize that implementation of policy changes across complex systems may take time, the lack of visible progress and communication has created significant confusion and uncertainty for impacted physicians and their employers,” the societies wrote. 

A recent survey of radiologists and other affected physicians in late May found that nearly all respondents reported no meaningful change in their immigration case status over the past two months. Many have indicated ongoing disruptions to their ability to provide patient care or meet training obligations. ACR and others worry these delays could have “immediate and significant implications” for the U.S. healthcare workforce. 

International medical graduates represent approximately one-fourth of U.S. radiologists, one recent study estimated. Another analysis showed that about 64% of these physicians across all specialties practice in medically underserved areas. While the April 30 directive signaled an “important policy shift,” stakeholders have yet to observe any noticeable changes. 

ACR, AMA and others are requesting four policy updates to help smooth out these challenges. They include (1) establishing a formal medical national-interest exemption; (2) implementing mandatory expedited visa processing for physician cases; (3) providing clear guidance to adjudicators and consular officers; and (4) improving transparency and communication for impacted immigration cases. 

“Physicians and medical trainees are indispensable to the nation’s healthcare infrastructure,” the letter closed. “Preventing them from entering the country, reentering after travel, or continuing their training and practice due to unresolved administrative delays undermines patient access to care, unnecessarily strains an already limited workforce, and disrupts longstanding federal goals related to physician workforce development.”

The letter comes after a federal court also recently quashed a $100,000 new visa fee for immigrants seeking to enter America through the H-1B visa program.