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Senator Gillibrand Raises Alarm Over J-1 Visa Waiver Delays Affecting Foreign-Trained Doctors
'Hundreds' of foreign-trained doctors could be forced to leave the US due to snags in processing J-1 visa waivers: NY Senator
Image: Gulf News
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has highlighted delays in processing J-1 visa waivers that could force hundreds of foreign-trained doctors to leave the U.S., exacerbating physician shortages in rural New York. The backlog at the Department of Health and Human Services threatens healthcare access in underserved areas.
- 01Senator Gillibrand warned that administrative delays at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could lead to foreign-trained doctors leaving the U.S.
- 02International medical graduates make up over one-third of New York's physician workforce, crucial for rural healthcare.
- 03A 2025 report indicates severe healthcare shortages in rural New York, with some counties lacking basic medical specialists.
- 04Hospitals depend on the J-1 visa waiver program to recruit physicians for federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.
- 05Gillibrand has requested HHS to provide information on pending applications and processing times for the visa waivers.
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Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has raised concerns about significant delays in processing J-1 visa waivers, which could result in hundreds of foreign-trained doctors being forced to leave the United States. This situation poses a serious threat to healthcare access in rural areas of New York, where many hospitals rely on these physicians to fill critical staffing gaps. Gillibrand emphasized that international medical graduates constitute more than one-third of New York's physician workforce, particularly in underserved regions. A report projected alarming healthcare shortages in rural counties, with many lacking essential specialists such as pediatricians and OB-GYNs. The senator noted that the backlog at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is preventing qualified doctors from starting their positions, creating uncertainty for hospitals regarding staffing levels. She has called on HHS to clarify the number of pending applications and processing times, as the urgency increases with a looming deadline for many physicians to secure their waivers.
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The delays in processing J-1 visa waivers could lead to a worsening healthcare crisis in rural New York, where access to medical care is already limited.
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