Trump administration may exempt doctors from $100,000 H-1B visa fee shock, White House hints

The Trump administration has suggested that doctors and medical residents may be spared from the newly announced $100,000 H-1B visa application fee. The clarification comes amid concerns from US medical associations about worsening doctor shortages, especially in rural areas.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the proclamation signed by US President Donald Trump “allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents.”

Also Read: 'We need brightest minds, smartest people’: Jensen Huang, Sam Altman back Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike

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Why the exemption matters:

The executive order, announced last week, introduced a dramatic hike from the existing $215 fee to $100,000. However, it also included a clause allowing waivers if the US Secretary of Homeland Security determines that hiring certain workers is “in the national interest.”

“Ultimately, the Trump Administration defers to the language in the proclamation,” Rogers explained.

The medical community had raised alarm, warning that such an enormous fee could block international medical graduates from practicing in the US, jeopardising patient care.

Also Read: New ‘Trump Gold Card’ offers visa access for wealthy amid H-1B crackdown

Rural America most at risk

Healthcare leaders say the proposed fee could deepen staffing shortages in underserved regions. The American Medical Association’s president, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, stressed that international doctors are “a critical part of our physician workforce.”

Rural hospitals in particular rely heavily on foreign-trained physicians to meet basic healthcare needs. A blanket fee increase, experts say, would have cut off a lifeline of much-needed medical professionals.

H-1B visas beyond tech

While H-1B visas are often associated with tech jobs, a Pew Research Center data showed nearly 60 per cent of approvals since 2012 were computer-related-they are also essential in sectors like healthcare, universities, and finance.

Economist Stephen Brown noted that there are currently around 700,000 H-1B visa holders in the US, plus another half a million dependents. Each year, 65,000 new visas are issued, with an additional 20,000 available to those holding advanced degrees. India remains the largest source of applicants, making up nearly three-quarters of approvals in 2023.