Saturday, March 29, 2025
Trump May Exempt Doctors from $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee, Reports Suggest
Updated: September 23, 2025, 06:26 AM IST
In a potential relief for the U.S. healthcare sector, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering exempting doctors and medical residents from the recently announced $100,000 H-1B visa fee. While the proposal is still under review, sources say a decision could be taken soon, particularly in light of the growing shortage of doctors in the United States.
On September 20, President Trump signed an executive order requiring all new H-1B visa applicants to pay an additional $100,000 fee. The move, intended to prioritize American workers, has sparked widespread concern across the technology, engineering, and science sectors, where H-1B visa holders are heavily employed. Major companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon have warned that the decision will increase costs and disrupt hiring.
According to White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers, the administration recognizes that imposing the $100,000 fee on doctors could worsen the U.S. physician shortage, particularly in rural and underserved areas. As a result, officials are weighing exemptions for medical professionals and residents.
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, President of the American Medical Association and a surgeon from Michigan, has also urged the administration to remove doctors from the fee mandate, warning that otherwise, the U.S. could face a serious healthcare staffing crisis.
The new H-1B fee policy disproportionately affects Indians, who make up 70% of all H-1B visa holders in the U.S. The Indian IT industry is expected to bear the heaviest financial burden, with reports already predicting significant reductions in technology services.
Despite the backlash, the Trump administration has defended the policy as part of its broader “America First” agenda, while India has cautiously described the move as potentially beneficial for its Self-Reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and Make in India initiatives.
However, with growing pressure from the healthcare sector, Washington may carve out an exemption for doctors—a move seen as essential to preventing a medical workforce crisis in the U.S.
