Earlier this year, we posted a blog about significant changes made to H-1B processing caused by an executive order called “Buy American, Hire American.” Beginning on September 11, 2018, it will become even more difficult for foreign-trained physicians to obtain an H-1B visa, according to an update from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services department.

USCIS is expanding the temporary freeze on H-1B petition processing to include additional specific petitions. The original suspension of processing was stated to last until September 10, 2018, but these new additions have extended the estimated date to February 19, 2019.

What are the repercussions of this extended backlog?

In a recent social media post, we cited an article that described the ill effects this visa backlog has on foreign physicians and the under-served populations in America where they are desperately needed.

Here are some of the most critical effects:

• The US will face a shortage of primary care and specialty physicians. In a decade, there will be a growth in the aging population, thus a growth in demand for these types of physicians to meet their needs.
• Patients living in underserved areas of the US will be severely affected. Over 85 million people live in parts of the US designated as primary health care professional shortage areas. Foreign-trained physicians typically choose to work in these demographics.
• Physicians waiting on permanent residential status will now have to wait even longer. Many international medical graduates have been waiting years — even decades — to live in the country where they have been actively practicing.

What are some resources to find more information?

To familiarize yourself with the original H-1B changes, follow this link to our previous blog post. Here at Resolve, we understand the complications this backlog will have for many physicians searching for employment. We want to provide the best service and information we can to aid you in your search, however we are not immigration attorneys. If you have any other questions about H-1B petition processing, we recommend speaking with an immigration attorney. If you are currently in the process of looking for an H-1B sponsored job, please reach out to one of our team members to discuss how we can assist you at 877-758-3318.