AHA urges healthcare workers to be exempt from proposed H-1B visa fee caps

The American Hospital Association requested the Department of Homeland Security to exempt healthcare workers from its proposed H-1B visa fee of $103,265 for petitions subject to statutory caps. The AHA said the fee would hinder hospitals’ ability to use the H-1B program to address healthcare worker shortages and would be especially detrimental to hospitals in rural and underserved communities, where staffing shortages are more severe and hospitals are less able to absorb additional recruitment costs. The AHA notes healthcare professionals comprise less than 5% of H-1B visa holders in the U.S. DHS’ proposed fee is separate from the $100,000 H-1B visa fee issued recently by the administration through a presidential proclamation. (AHA News article, 9/23/26)