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Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has raised concerns over reports that physicians from India who matched into U.S. residency and fellowship programs are facing “unexpected” J-1 visa denials and administrative hurdles under the Trump Administration. He warned that such disruptions could worsen physician shortages and affect access to healthcare in rural and underserved communities across the United States.
“At a time when America already faces serious physician shortages — especially in rural and underserved communities — the last thing we should be doing is creating arbitrary barriers that prevent qualified doctors from beginning training,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi in a statement. “These physicians followed longstanding legal pathways, earned placements through an extraordinarily rigorous and competitive process, and are scheduled to begin caring for patients in communities across the United States that urgently need doctors. The Trump Administration must provide transparency, ensure fair and timely visa processing, and prevent disruptions that could leave hospitals short-staffed and patients without care.”
According to the statement, the concerns follow reports from physician organizations, including the Osmania Gandhi Kakatiya and Telangana Medical Alumni Association of America (OGKTMA), regarding an increasing number of matched medical residents encountering “visa refusals, prolonged administrative processing, or cancellations of previously valid visitor visas” despite securing accredited U.S. residency placements and completing required observership programs.
“OGKTMA warns many of the affected physicians are scheduled to begin training this July in programs that serve communities already facing serious doctor shortages,” the statement noted. “The United States already faces a projected shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, with rural and underserved communities expected to face some of the deepest shortages.”
The statement further noted that international medical graduates account for more than one in four physicians in the United States and play a critical role in staffing hospitals and clinics that face challenges recruiting doctors. It added that many physicians who enter through the J-1 visa pathway later serve in federally designated shortage areas through programs aimed at expanding healthcare access in rural and medically underserved communities.
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