The United States has reversed its recent decision to ban visa applications for Nigerian and other doctors seeking to work in the country.
The visa freeze policy which was issued in April this year by the Donald Trump administration had blocked many foreign doctors seeking to pursue their practice in the US.
The Department of Homeland Security had implemented the travel ban covering citizens from Nigeria and 38 countries, which halted visa extensions, work permits and green cards for foreign physicians.
According to reports, the policy had caused serious shortages of doctors in the US Health sector, forcing the administration to make a u-turn.
The Association of American Medical Colleges claims that a deficit of about 65,000 physicians now exist in the country, warning that the gap could further widen as more health care services are demanded by the citizens, while the retirement of older doctors also poses a serious challenge.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, however, disclosed last week on its website that doctors are now exempt from the processing suspension.
In a statement, DHS said that “Applications associated with medical physicians will continue processing.”
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