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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
The Trump administration is back with a new $103,265 fee on H-1B visa petitions — its second attempt after a court blocked a similar $100,000 fee earlier this year. The charge would apply to employers hiring cap-subject foreign workers, including physicians, but would spare universities and nonprofit academic hospitals. Medical groups are already raising alarms about the potential impact on healthcare access in underserved areas.
The Trump administration is taking another swing at H-1B visa costs, proposing a new $103,265 fee on petitions subject to the annual 85,000-visa cap — a dramatic jump from the current $2,000–$5,000 range. The Department of Homeland Security says the fee is designed to generate revenue for immigration system costs, not just serve as a deterrent — a key distinction from the prior $100,000 fee that a federal judge struck down in June for exceeding executive authority.
This new proposal is notably broader: unlike its predecessor, it would apply to workers already living in the U.S. — such as international students transitioning from OPT to H-1B status — though it would still exempt universities, research organizations, and nonprofit hospitals affiliated with academic institutions. The public has 30 days to comment.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: If enacted, the fee could significantly shrink the pipeline of foreign-trained physicians entering the U.S. workforce — worsening existing shortages in primary care, psychiatry, and rural medicine.
