Medical groups said that the US$100,000 charge would force patients, especially in rural areas, to drive farther to get care
The Trump administration’s US$100,000 fee for high-skilled visa applicants threatens to worsen a shortage of US doctors and make it harder for rural hospitals to operate, medical groups warned.
The fee for H-1B visas “risks shutting off the pipeline of highly trained doctors that patients depend on, especially in rural and underserved communities”, said American Medical Association president Bobby Mukkamala, a Michigan head and neck surgeon.
US President Donald Trump added the fee for applications for the programme in a proclamation on Friday that roiled the technology industry and upended plans of highly educated foreign students. The White House clarified on Saturday that the new policy does not apply to current visa holders.
On Monday, the administration also said doctors may be able to avoid it. “The proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include doctors and medical residents,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said.
