American Medical Association Urges DHS to Exempt Physicians from $100,000 H-1B visa fee

In a September 25, 2025, letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the American Medical Association and 53 medical societies urged DHS to exempt physicians from the new $100,000 payment requirement for certain H-1B petitions. The letter reasons that the United States relies heavily upon foreign physicians for healthcare, especially in Medically Underserved Areas and Health Professional Shortage Areas, which frequently overlap with rural areas. Many physicians working in these areas rely on the H-1B program to maintain their status and employment authorization, and the limited resources available to these communities makes it highly unlikely that that the communities can afford the $100,000 payment. 

Read the AMA’s letter here.