US lawmakers push to waive $1,00,000 H-1B fee for healthcare workers amid mounting staff shortage
Amid growing concerns over a shortage of healthcare professionals, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation to waive the $1,00,000 H-1B visa fee imposed under former President Donald Trump for foreign doctors and nurses.
The bill, tabled in the US House of Representatives, seeks to ease the financial burden on hospitals and healthcare institutions hiring skilled international professionals. The move is being seen as a targeted intervention to address critical workforce gaps in the American healthcare system.
The $1,00,000 fee was introduced through a presidential proclamation in September 2025, significantly increasing the cost of employing foreign workers under the H-1B visa programme. The policy has since drawn criticism from healthcare providers, business groups, and several state Governments, who argue it could restrict access to qualified professionals and strain essential services. The latest legislative push also comes as a rebuttal to claims by sections of Trump’s political base that the H-1B programme displaces American workers. Lawmakers backing the bill argue that the healthcare sector faces unique challenges, with domestic supply falling short of demand, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
Support for waiving the fee is gaining momentum in Congress. Nearly 100 lawmakers have sent a joint letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, urging an exemption for healthcare workers.
In their communication, lawmakers highlighted that close to 87 million Americans live in areas already facing a shortage of medical professionals.
They also underscored that the US healthcare system has relied on international talent for over three decades to fill critical gaps.
The legislators warned that the steep visa fee could disproportionately impact rural hospitals and urban safety-net facilities, making it even harder for them to recruit and retain qualified staff.
Meanwhile, the policy continues to face legal scrutiny. Multiple lawsuits have been filed by nursing unions, Democratic-led states, and the US Chamber of Commerce, challenging the legality of the proclamation. Petitioners argue that the measure exceeds executive authority and risks undermining the quality of services in hospitals and educational institutions.
Supporters of the new bill maintain that exempting doctors and nurses from the fee would provide immediate relief to a strained healthcare system without altering the broader structure of the H-1B visa programme.
The proposal reflects an emerging bipartisan consensus on the need for sector-specific immigration flexibility, even as broader debates over immigration policy remain sharply divided in the United States.
