US Lawmakers Urge Exemption Of  Doctors From H-1B Fee

WASHINGTON, DC -A group of US lawmakers have urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to exempt health care professionals from a new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, warning that the policy is straining hospitals and could worsen critical workforce shortages across the country.

In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, members of the New Democrat Coalition and other lawmakers said the $100,000 fee threatens access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities already struggling to recruit and retain medical professionals.

Led by Representatives Emilia Sykes and Terri Sewell, the full letter was signed by more than two dozen members of Congress, including Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ted Lieu, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Kim Schrier.

“As Members of Congress, access to health care is one of our top priorities,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Proclamation issued September 19, 2025, poses a serious threat to the healthcare workforce in our districts. Fewer healthcare workers mean higher costs, longer wait times, and greater distance travelled for our constituents to access the care they need. We urge the administration to prevent any disruptions in access to care and exempt health care professionals from these fees,” said the letter.

The proclamation requires certain H-1B visa petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025 to be accompanied by an additional $100,000 payment, a sharp increase from the previous $215 registry fee. Health care leaders say the added cost and uncertainty are already discouraging hospitals from hiring foreign-trained physicians and specialists.

They cited estimates from the Health Resources and Services Administration that 13,075 additional physicians are needed to eliminate primary care shortage designations nationwide, with the shortfall projected to grow to 87,150 by 2037. Nurses, behavioral health professionals, pediatric specialists and laboratory personnel are also in short supply.

The lawmakers stressed that the H-1B program does not displace US workers, but instead helps sustain the health care system. In 2024, they noted, 16,937 of the roughly 400,000 approved H-1B petitions were for medicine and health professionals. They argued that losing even a fraction of these workers would further strain hospitals already grappling with rising costs. (IANS)