In late May, the Trump administration suspended new interviews for J-1 visas, the type used by most international rheumatology residents. Though this suspension has since been lifted, its impact could have a lasting effect. Subsequently, on June 9, the administration implemented a travel ban that bars citizens of 12 countries from entering the U.S. The impact of these two policies is discussed below.
Pause & Reinstatement of J-1 Visa Interviews
The temporary pause of J-1 visa interviews was instituted by the U.S. Department of State for enhanced social media vetting. It has since lifted the pause and directed embassies to prioritize J-1 physicians.
However, this pause created uncertainty and challenges for both rheumatology fellows and fellowship programs. Many international medical graduates pursue rheumatology fellowships in the U.S. using J-1 visas. The pause on visa appointments caused delays in processing, potentially impacting the ability of these graduates to access training opportunities or arrive in time for their fellowship start dates, which are typically July 1. The uncertainty of visa processing times also made it difficult for fellowship programs to finalize their staffing and training schedules. Program directors might have had to adapt to accommodate delays or seek alternative solutions.
Rheumatology, like other medical specialties, faces workforce shortages. International medical graduates play a crucial role in filling these gaps. Delays caused by the J-1 visa process threatened to exacerbate existing shortages, potentially impacting patient care.
Impact of Travel Ban
The new travel ban restricts nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the U.S. Nationals from seven additional countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela—face partial travel restrictions. These restrictions could have various impacts on the field of rheumatology, primarily through effects on research, training and global collaboration.
The ban could impede international collaboration in rheumatology research. Scientists from affected countries may be unable to participate in conferences and research projects in the U.S., hindering the sharing of knowledge about arthritis, lupus and other rheumatic diseases.
Reduced access to training and recruitment may also lead to physician shortages, potentially compromising patient care in high-need communities. This would exacerbate the existing workforce shortage rheumatology is already facing.
The Trump administration has taken steps to freeze funding for collaborations between medical researchers in the U.S. and abroad. This could significantly impact rheumatology research projects that rely on international partnerships.
