Key Takeaways
- Afghan, Ethiopian, and Cuban physicians have built practices as asylees
- No green card required — revenue-based evaluation
- Fund clinic buildout, medical equipment, and working capital
- SBA citizenship rule blocked your SBA loan — Bankable is the alternative
- Decisions within 48 hours based on practice revenue
The United States has a physician shortage measured in the tens of thousands. Among the most qualified people to fill that gap are foreign-trained doctors who arrived as asylees — Afghan surgeons who fled the Taliban, Cuban physicians who left state medicine, Ethiopian and Eritrean doctors who rebuilt careers in American cities. Many have completed US residencies and board certifications. Many have opened independent practices. And many have been turned away by banks for a single reason: no green card.
Bankable funds healthcare practices. We look at your billing revenue, your patient volume, your payer mix — not your immigration timeline. If your practice generates revenue and you have work authorization, you qualify.
Healthcare Businesses We Fund
- Independent medical practices (primary care, internal medicine, family medicine)
- Specialty practices (cardiology, psychiatry, orthopedics, dermatology)
- Urgent care centers and walk-in clinics
- Dental and orthodontic practices (see dental practice funding)
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation centers
- Medical labs and diagnostic centers
- Home health agencies
- Mental health practices and counseling centers
What We Fund
Clinic buildout and leasehold improvements — the single largest startup cost for a new practice — can be funded through Bankable. Medical equipment (imaging, diagnostic, treatment) is fundable either through equipment financing (equipment as collateral) or working capital. Hiring staff — medical assistants, billing specialists, front desk — requires working capital bridge while insurance billing clears. EMR/EHR system implementation costs are commonly funded.
The Insurance Billing Gap
Healthcare practices face a structural cash flow challenge: services are rendered in January, insurance pays in March. This 60-90 day receivable cycle creates a working capital need that is chronic, not one-time. Bankable's revolving line of credit structure (draw, repay, redraw) is ideal for practices managing this billing cycle. Learn more about working capital lines for asylees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Asylee physicians with active medical licenses, EAD work authorization, and a US business entity can receive funding for practice buildout, equipment, and working capital. We do not require a green card.
Established practices need at least $25,000/month in billing revenue. For new practices, we may consider practice acquisition financing or startup capital based on the physician's background and contracted payer agreements.
Yes. Practice acquisition is a common use. We evaluate the target practice's revenue and the acquiring physician's credentials. See our guide on buying an existing business.
Yes. Psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed counselors, and social work practices with consistent revenue qualify under the same terms as medical practices.
Business bank statements (3-6 months), EIN, EAD, medical license, and if applicable, billing statements showing revenue. We do not require audited financials for amounts under $500K.
For startup practices, funding is more challenging without revenue history. We recommend starting your practice, operating for 6 months, and then returning to Bankable for growth capital.
Insurance payments from Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers count toward your qualifying revenue. We review your bank deposits, which include insurance payments, to verify revenue.
The 2026 SBA rule requiring citizenship/national status is current policy and affects all asylee business owners, including healthcare professionals. Bankable is private funding and is not subject to SBA rules.