Visa-Related Barriers for International Medical Graduates How Immigration Policies Derail Medical Careers

Abstract

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) make up a large portion of the physician workforce in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Despite their critical role and essential contributions, IMGs face significant barriers to their entry and practice, including visa delays, restrictive policies, and travel bans. These barriers not only affect physicians by disrupting their professional development but also the healthcare systems that rely on them, exacerbating the physician shortages, ultimately undermining healthcare access. This article sheds light on visa-related issues and how bureaucracy disrupts professional development, separates families, and compounds the worsening healthcare crisis. To address these concerns, this article proposes solutions such as the creation of a trilateral visa encompassing the US, Canada, and the UK. This would streamline application processing, prioritize family reunification, and place residency authorization directly in the hands of the training program or hospital involved. By doing this and removing immigrationrelated barriers, qualified IMGs could begin their training alongside their peers, without delays, combating the physician shortage, and strengthening healthcare systems.