Washington: The Trump administration’s proposal to raise H-1B visa fees from the current maximum of $4,500 to as much as $100,000 is drawing sharp criticism from U.S. healthcare organizations, which warn the move could deepen the country’s physician shortage. The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing the proposed policy changes, which would affect foreign professionals in technology, engineering, medicine, and academia.
Healthcare groups emphasize that international medical graduates (IMGs) are a critical component of the U.S. healthcare system. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, IMGs account for over 20% of practicing family doctors, many of whom serve in rural or underserved communities. Hospital associations and medical organizations warn that the steep fee increase could deter foreign-trained doctors from entering the U.S., leaving hospitals understaffed and patients facing longer waits and travel for medical care.
Data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services indicates that in fiscal year 2025, there were approximately 442,000 unique H-1B visa holders across all sectors, with 5,640 approvals in healthcare and social assistance alone. The American Medical Association has cautioned that the proposed fees could “choke off” the pipeline of international physicians, exacerbating a problem that the Association of American Medical Colleges projects could leave the U.S. short between 13,500 and 86,000 physicians by 2036.
Major hospital systems, including OhioHealth, Cleveland Clinic, Cedars-Sinai, and Mass General Brigham, have expressed concern over the impact of the fee hike on operations, citing ongoing staffing pressures since the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Hospital Association stressed that the H-1B program plays a crucial role in recruiting skilled physicians and other healthcare professionals to maintain patient access, calling for exemptions for healthcare personnel to avoid further disruption.
As policymakers consider the implications of the proposed fee increase, healthcare leaders are urging a balanced approach that safeguards the country’s access to medical care while addressing broader immigration policy goals. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the administration revises the plan in light of mounting opposition from the medical community.