The White House has suggested that doctors could be exempt from the new $100,000 fee for high-skilled H-1B visa applications. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Bloomberg News that the proclamation by President Trump “allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents.”
The executive order allows the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the fee if hiring certain workers is “in the national interest.” This clarification comes after medical organizations raised concerns about a potential doctor shortage, especially in rural areas. Many worry that the hefty visa fee could block international medical graduates from working in the U.S.
The new H-1B visa fee is $100,000, replacing the previous $215 application charge. Existing visa holders and employees travelling abroad will not face the new fee. The policy took effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Sunday.
H-1B visas let U.S. employers hire foreign workers with specialized skills and a bachelor’s degree or higher, usually for three years. The U.S. issues 65,000 new visas annually, with an extra 20,000 for advanced degree holders. About 60% of approved visas since 2012 went to tech jobs, but hospitals and universities also hire foreign workers. Most new H-1B visa holders in 2023 came from India.
