US may exempt doctors from $100,000 H-1B visa fee: Report
The White House is considering waivers for physicians and medical residents amid concerns from medical groups about a potential doctor shortage in rural areas
In what could be a major relief for one segment of foreign professionals keen to work in the United States, the White House has indicated that the newly-introduced $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications could exempt doctors.
“The proclamation signed by President Donald Trump allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents,” said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers in a statement to Bloomberg News.
“Ultimately, the Trump administration defers to the language in the proclamation,” continued Rogers.
Also Read: USCIS: $100,000 fee to apply for new H-1B petitions from Sept 21
The visa fee for medical students or professionals entering the US is currently only $215, and some other nominal processing charges.
Also Read: USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee a one-time charge, only for new petitions: Trump admin
Medical groups flag concerns
The clarification from the White House came after hospitals and some of the largest medical bodies in the US raised concerns about the risk of a shortage of doctors in rural America.
Already, there are not enough medical professionals in remote regions in the US, which struggle to attract US-trained doctors.
The H-1B visa programme is considered critical for hospitals to hire foreign-trained specialists and medical residents to work in these areas.
Bobby Mukkamala, a Michigan-based head and neck surgeon who is the president of the American Medical Association (AMA) warned, “The new visa fee risks shutting off the pipeline of highly-trained physicians that patients depend on, especially in rural and underserved communities. International graduates are a critical part of our physician workforce.”
Also Read: India voices concern over Trump’s new H-1B visa restrictions
Need for doctors
There are more than 76 million Americans living in regions officially designated as short of primary care doctors, according to federal data compiled by the health research group KFF.
Leading medical institutions like the Cleveland Clinic, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Mayo Clinic are major sponsors of H-1B visas, going by the federal immigration records.
The new H-1B visa fee could be a huge burden for in extra labour costs for these medical institutions.
Since announcing the new policy on Friday (September 19) that triggered a wave of panic among H-1B visa holders, the Trump administration has clarified that the new fee does not apply to existing visa holders but only to new applicants from September 21, and that it is not an annual fee but a one-time fee.