U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has lifted processing holds on immigration benefit applications filed by or on behalf of medical physicians.
The change was quietly added to a March 30 USCIS alert about strengthened screening and vetting procedures. USCIS also says it will continue to review all application types and lift holds for both individual and group cases as appropriate.
The move follows mounting pressure from hospitals and physician groups. In April, ASGE joined the American Academy of Family Physicians and 22 other national organizations on a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin urging prioritization and expedited immigration adjudications for medical students, resident physicians, and practicing physicians.
This update applies only to physicians with a pending USCIS benefit application being processed inside the United States, including, but not limited to, H-1B petitions filed by U.S. employers for physician employees and J-1 waiver-related adjustment of status applications.
In April, the ASGE Diversity and Inclusion Committee held a webinar providing information to international medical graduates pursuing gastroenterology training. The webinar focused on practical guidance for navigating the visa and immigration landscape, including visa pathways, eligibility requirements, and critical considerations during major career transitions, from residency to fellowship and from fellowship to attending practice.