Trump’s H-1B Fee Sparks Doctor Exodus Fears; Exemptions Loom

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Washington
• Sep 22, 2025
• 634

The Trump administration’s sudden $100,000 fee for H-1B visas has sent shockwaves across U.S. healthcare and tech sectors. While aimed at curbing wage suppression, the fee threatens to derail the flow of highly skilled foreign professionals, particularly physicians.

The White House has now hinted that doctors and medical residents could be exempt, offering a lifeline to hospitals that rely on international medical graduates. “This fee risks shutting off the pipeline of highly trained physicians that patients depend on, especially in rural and underserved communities,” said American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala.

Healthcare giants like Mayo Clinic and Children’s Research Hospital sponsor hundreds of H-1B visas annually. For many, the added $100,000 per visa could balloon labor costs by millions. Internationally, the policy has caused alarm in India, which supplies roughly 22% of U.S. immigrant physicians.

Experts warn that beyond staffing challenges, the fee could choke off critical medical research, leaving the U.S. at a disadvantage in scientific innovation.

Bottom Line: While exemptions may shield doctors, the $100K H-1B fee marks a disruptive turn in U.S. immigration policy, with long-term consequences for healthcare access, research, and global talent.