The American Hospital Association (AHA) is calling on the U.S. administration to shield healthcare professionals particularly nurses, physicians, and other critical medical staff from the impact of a newly imposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee. The organization warns that the policy could worsen ongoing shortages of clinicians and potentially force hospitals especially in rural and underserved areas to cut essential healthcare services.
This urgent request follows a Sept. 19 proclamation by President Donald Trump that introduced the fee for new H-1B visa applications involving foreign workers in high-skilled positions. The measure officially took effect on Sept. 21 and allows for exemptions only on a case-by-case basis, if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines the hiring to be “in the national interest.”
Healthcare Workforce at Risk
In a formal Sept. 29 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the AHA emphasized the critical role foreign-trained healthcare professionals play in maintaining hospital staffing levels.
According to federal data, almost 400,000 H-1B petitions were approved in fiscal year 2024, with 16,937 (4.2%) of those allocated to medicine and health occupations roughly half to physicians and surgeons.
Hospitals and health systems regularly depend on the H-1B program not only to recruit doctors but also to hire international nurses and medical residents for hard-to-fill positions. These roles are essential, particularly in communities where shortages limit access to quality care.
The AHA notes that about 17% of hospital clinicians nationwide are immigrants, and 26% of those are noncitizen immigrants, underscoring how vital visa sponsorship is to sustaining healthcare services.
Major Hospital Systems Depend on Global Talent
Some of the nation’s leading medical institutions including Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; Cleveland Clinic in Ohio; and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee are among the top sponsors of H-1B visas. Each employs hundreds of foreign-born physicians and relies heavily on international recruitment to meet patient needs.
Smaller hospitals, particularly in rural America, face even greater challenges. Without access to international talent pools and workable visa sponsorship programs, they risk severe staffing shortages that directly affect patient care.
Questions Around the Conrad 30 Waiver Program
The AHA has also requested clarification from the administration about whether physicians participating in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program, which allows international medical graduates to work in underserved areas, would be subject to the hefty new fee.
Policy uncertainty is creating anxiety for hospitals in the process of hiring international nurses, physicians, and allied healthcare professionals. Any disruption to recruitment pipelines could have long-term consequences for patient care delivery.
How VisaMadeEZ Can Help
At VisaMadeEZ, we understand how important H-1B visa sponsorship for healthcare workers is for maintaining hospital staffing levels. Whether your organization needs to hire international nurses, specialized physicians, or critical healthcare support staff, our experienced immigration attorneys provide end-to-end guidance from petition filing and compliance to navigating exemption requests under the "national interest" criteria.
We specialize in helping healthcare facilities overcome visa-related obstacles, ensuring they can continue to serve their patients without interruption.
Contact VisaMadeEZ today to learn how we can help your hospital or clinic successfully recruit and retain top international healthcare talent, even in the face of changing immigration policies.
