New Delhi: The White House has suggested that doctors and medical residents could be exempted from the newly announced $100,000 H-1B visa application fee, amid growing concerns over a potential shortage of healthcare providers in rural America.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Bloomberg News that the proclamation signed by President Donald Trump last week includes provisions for possible exemptions.
“The proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents,” Rogers said.
Under the new executive order, the $100,000 fee may be waived if the US Secretary of Homeland Security determines that hiring certain workers is “in the national interest,” either individually or for specific industries.
The clarification follows warnings from major medical associations that the steep fee could severely restrict the flow of international medical graduates, many of whom serve in underserved and rural areas across the United States.
The new fee a sharp increase from the current $215 plus nominal processing charges — took effect Sunday at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time. The White House has reassured businesses that the fee does not apply to existing H-1B visa holders, and workers travelling abroad will not be stranded due to the new policy.
The H-1B visa allows US employers to hire foreign professionals with specialised skills and at least a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent). The visa is typically valid for three years and can be extended for another three, with roughly 700,000 H-1B holders currently in the country along with an estimated half a million dependents, according to economist Stephen Brown of Capital Economics.
While around 60% of H-1B approvals since 2012 have been for computer-related jobs, hospitals, banks, universities, and other sectors also rely on the program. Each year, 65,000 new H-1B visas are issued through a lottery system, with an additional 20,000 available for individuals with advanced degrees. Universities and certain nonprofit employers are exempt from these caps.
