News: Restrictions on H-1B visas leaves fate of foreign healthcare workers unknown

The Trump administration recently issued a presidential proclamation increasing the fee to $100,000 for new H-1B employee visas, as well as a number of other restrictions on immigration workers, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA).

The restrictions began on September 21 and expire in a year. According to the Department of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the proclamation does not apply to H-1B visas and petitions submitted prior to September 21.

Critically, the AHA noted, “[i]t is currently unclear if health care workers could qualify for the exemption process.”

“One of the short-term strategies used by U.S. hospitals to address personnel shortages is the use of foreign-trained health care workers,” the AHA said in response to the proclamation.

“While we work to educate more health care staff,” they continued “the H-1B visa program plays a critical role in allowing the hospital field to recruit highly skilled physicians and other health care professionals to ensure access to care for communities and patients, including in rural and other areas where there are well-documented shortages of health care workers.”

Editor’s note: To read the H-1B proclamation, click here. To read the AHA coverage and statement, click here.