Healthcare Groups Urge Exemption from H-1B Visa Fee
Healthcare associations criticize new H-1B visa fees, warning of impact on medical workforce.
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Major healthcare associations have publicly criticized the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s proposed H-1B visa fee, warning that the $103,265 charge could harm access to quality care. The American Hospital Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA) joined other groups in expressing concerns about the financial burden on medical professionals and hospitals.
Healthcare Organizations Warn of Financial Burden
The AHA and AMA, among others, have raised alarms about the impact of the proposed fee on their members. In an open letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, the AHA stated that the new rule could significantly affect the 5,000 hospitals it represents and the doctors they employ. The letter urged the Department of Homeland Security to exempt healthcare professionals from additional fees to ensure continued access to timely, high-quality care.
The AMA also criticized the proposed rule, stating that it could have devastating consequences for International Medical Graduates and directly affect the healthcare system. The association claimed the rule may violate the Major Questions Doctrine, which limits an agency’s authority over significant economic and political matters unless Congress has clearly granted that power.
Legal and Political Reactions to Proposed Rule
The proposed H-1B visa fee increase was part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to generate revenue for immigration enforcement and administration. The rule aims to recover costs associated with these services. However, the healthcare groups argue that the fee could exacerbate existing shortages in the medical workforce, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
On October 3, 2025, Global Nurse Forces and a coalition of labor workers filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the fee increase. The case is currently pending in the California District Court. Meanwhile, Republican Utah Rep. Mike Kennedy has proposed legislation to make the H-1B visa regulation fee permanent, citing concerns about the misuse of the system by employers or immigrants.
Background on H-1B Visa Program
The H-1B visa program, established in 1990, allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign nationals for highly skilled positions in fields such as technology, engineering, and medicine. The proposed rule sets a cap of 65,000 initial visas per fiscal year, with an exemption for those holding a U.S. master’s or higher degree.
According to the AHA, healthcare professionals currently make up less than five percent of all H-1B visa holders in the U.S. and represent only one percent of all practicing physicians in 2024. The association argues that the new visa regulations could worsen the existing shortage of medical professionals in the country.
Source: Daily Caller
