H-1B visa update- Doctors are likely to get exemptions from the Trump administration’s new $100,000 fee for high skilled H-1B visa applications. A statement from the White House indicates that the fee hike may not be applicable to all stakeholders. The Proclamation states that “potential exemptions,” could be granted if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that hiring such workers is “in the national interest.” This move comes after leading medical organisations raised concerns about the impact of the fee on rural communities, where healthcare providers are already in short supply.
H-1B visa update- What does the proclamation say?
The proclamation issued by the White House read: “The restriction imposed pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to any individual alien, all aliens working for a company, or all aliens working in an industry, if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines, in the Secretary’s discretion, that the hiring of such aliens to be employed as H-1B specialty occupation workers is in the national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States.” While the executive order doesn’t specify who these individuals will be, there are reports that it may include physicians and medical residents, as reported by the Bloomberg.
“The Proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in an email on Monday to Bloomberg News. The statement comes amid growing concern that the unprecedented $100,000 fee could significantly restrict opportunities for international professionals, especially in the fields of medicine and technology. Allowing exemptions for certain healthcare professionals could help address ongoing shortages in underserved areas across the country.
H-1B visa- fee applies only to fresh applications, USCIS clarifies
Earlier, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had clarified that the USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications will only apply to the new applicants and not to the petitions submitted prior to September 21. “This proclamation only applies prospectively to petitions that have not yet been filed. The proclamation does not apply to aliens who: are the beneficiaries of petitions that were filed prior to the effective date of the proclamation, are the beneficiaries of currently approved petitions, or are in possession of validly issued H-1B non-immigrant visas,” Joseph B Edlow, Director of USCIS, clarified in a memorandum on Saturday.
Notably, United States President Donald Trump on Friday had issued a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications effective September 21. The move aims to curb the overuse of the program, allowing companies to bring in only “highly skilled” workers from other countries. The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that permits US based companies to hire foreign workers for specialised roles requiring high-level skills and a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, particularly in fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and information technology.
Also Read: H-1B visa fee hike impact: India’s IT export growth may dip below 4%, warns report
