On Thursday, September 25, the American Medical Association and 53 major medical organizations jointly wrote to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the United States, requesting an exemption from the $100,000 H-1B visa fee required for hiring physicians.
Previously, on Monday, September 22, the White House stated that it may waive the $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas for hiring foreign doctors, residents, and researchers.
According to Bloomberg, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers confirmed via email on Monday that the latest H-1B visa announcement will “allow for potential exemptions, which may include doctors and residents.”
In the joint letter, it stated, “We urge the government to clearly identify that the entry of H-1B physicians is in the national interest, exempting them from new application fees so that H-1B physicians can continue to serve as a medical channel for American patients.”
These groups emphasized the crucial role these professionals play in stabilizing the human resources of the American healthcare system. The American Medical Association expressed its anticipation for working with the government to ensure patients’ right to medical services.
The Trump administration announced last Friday, September 19, the imposition of a one-time $100,000 fee for H-1B visas as part of its immigration policy reform measures.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign nationals in professional fields such as technology, engineering, medicine, and academia to compensate for the lack of domestic talent in these areas.
The U.S. healthcare system widely utilizes such visas to recruit international medical school graduates, overseas-trained physicians, and other professionals with foreign training. According to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as of June 2025, over 4,000 hospitals and research centers have provided sponsorship for H-1B visa holders.
Some advocacy groups indicate that in 2021, approximately 64% of internationally-trained physicians served in resource-scarce or healthcare professional shortage areas, with nearly 46% practicing in rural areas. It is estimated that by 2036, the shortage of physicians will reach up to 86,000 individuals.
(This article is based on reports from Reuters)