Potential Exemptions for Doctors from H-1B Visa Fee

The White House has indicated that doctors may be excluded from the new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications. The proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which could include physicians and medical residents, especially if the Secretary of Homeland Security deems their employment as being in the national interest. This comes in response to worries from leading medical organizations about the fee’s potential adverse effects, particularly in areas where there’s already a lack of healthcare professionals. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that the new fee applies only to new applicants and not to petitions filed before September 21.