ASA Urges US Departments of State and Homeland Security to Fix Physician Visa Delays

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) joined a coalition of leading physician organizations in urging federal action to address growing visa-related barriers impacting international medical graduates (IMGs). As a signatory to a joint formal request submitted to the Departments of State and Homeland Security, ASA is working alongside other national medical organizations to highlight how visa delays and adjudication holds are disrupting physician training pathways and limiting access to care across the United States. These challenges disproportionately affect medically underserved and rural communities, where foreign-trained physicians play a critical role in maintaining the healthcare workforce and ensuring continuity of patient care.

Through this effort, ASA and its partners are advocating for practical, targeted solutions—including expedited processing, improved transparency, and the establishment of national interest exemptions for physicians and trainees. These steps are essential to prevent further workforce disruptions and to safeguard patient access at a time of ongoing physician shortages.