NEW DELHI: Doctors and medical workers such as physicians and medical residents could be exempted from the United States’ new H-1B visa rules, according to a White House spokesperson. The rule exempts workers whose hiring is in national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States. This came after multiple prominent medical bodies highlighted the risk to rural America amid a dearth of providers.
“The Proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents. Ultimately, the Trump Administration defers to the language in the proclamation,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Bloomberg.
After US President Donald Trump passed the proclamation order increasing the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 for new applicants, medical bodies flagged that it could be a risk to rural America as many doctors there are Indians.
Exemptions under the rule
The proclamation allows exemptions under Section 1(c):
“The restriction…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…that the hiring of such aliens…is in the national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States.”
This gives the Homeland Security Secretary discretion to waive the fee for roles or sectors deemed essential.
India leads as the top source of immigrant doctors in the US. There are 59,000 Indian doctors in the US, which is 22% of all immigrant doctors in 2024, as per the Indian Tech & Infra X handle.
Who is exempt from the rule and those who are not?
It has been officially clarified by The White House that anyone who is currently an H-1B visa holder will not be affected by the new $100k proclamation.
“The Proclamation does not extend to anyone who has a current visa,” wrote the Rapid Responses page on X, adding that the proclamation only applies to future “applicants in the February lottery who are currently outside the US.”
The proclamation will also not affect the ability of any current visa holder to travel to/from the United States.
Speaking to the New York Times, a White House official had earlier clarified that the new H-1B visa fee mandate will apply to new applicants in the February lottery who are outside the US. Based on this statement, immigrants already on a work visa in the US and those up for renewals will be exempt from these $100,000. As of now, the order, signed by Trump, will remain valid for the next 12 months. After this “trial period” and the H-1B visa lottery, a new decision will be taken on the continuation of the proclamation.
US President Trump Friday introduced sweeping reforms in the immigration policy of Washington by imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications. The move is a serious blow to the companies sponsoring skilled foreign workers in the US. The move is especially likely to hit technology giants and Indian IT firms in a harsh way.
70% of all H-1B recipients are Indians and they will feel the impact of the new restrictions the most. Many rely on the visa as a way to attain long-term residency in the US. Post the new measures, an Indian immigrant will have to pay more than ₹88 lakh (US$100,000) for any new application for H-1B visa.
Agencies