Doctors likely to be exempted from Trump's $ 1,00,000 fee on H-1B visa
PTC News Desk: The White House on Monday signaled that doctors may be exempted from the Trump administration's newly introduced USD 100,000 fee on high-skilled H-1B visa applications.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said, "The Proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents." The clarification came after hospitals and medical groups raised alarms that the application cost would worsen staff shortages.
The H-1B visa programme is regarded as crucial in healthcare system of the United States as the visa invites foreign-trained health professionals. The healthcare system depends on this visa to bring in medical residents and specialists in the sectors that fail to attract US-trained health professionals.
Federal data compiled by the health research group KFF shows that over 76 million Americans live in regions officially designated as lacking sufficient primary care physicians.
American Medical Association (AMA) President Bobby Mukkamala, a Michigan-based head and neck surgeon, cautioned that the steep visa fee “threatens to cut off the flow of highly trained doctors that patients rely on, particularly in rural and underserved communities.” He emphasized that international medical graduates form “a vital part of our physician workforce.”
Federal immigration records reveal that leading institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are among the largest sponsors of H-1B visas. Mayo alone holds more than 300 approved visas. For such hospitals, the proposed fee could translate into millions of dollars in added labor expenses.
On September 19, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 charge on H-1B visas while also limiting the entry of certain non-immigrant workers. The administration argued that the fee would ensure that only “exceptionally skilled” individuals are admitted and discourage companies from replacing American employees with foreign workers.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the policy as a necessary correction, claiming earlier visa programs admitted individuals earning below-average wages who often relied on government aid. He said the changes would remove the “bottom quartile” of applicants and generate more than USD 100 billion for the US Treasury. According to Trump, these funds will help cut the national debt and reduce taxes.
The White House clarified that the USD 100,000 levy applies only to new H-1B petitions submitted on or after September 21. Applications filed earlier will not be affected, and the fee is a one-time payment rather than a recurring annual charge.
- PTC NEWS
