Proposed Legislation Would Exempt Healthcare Professionals from H-1B Fee

Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), and Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), introduced H1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act (H.R. 7961), which would exempt healthcare professionals from the $100,000 H-1B petition fee that stems from a proclamation issued by President Trump in September 2025.

The proclamation provided no exception for physicians; however, the Secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to grant exceptions to the fee in “extraordinarily rare” circumstances. ASNC joined 50+ organizations in a joint letter asking then-Secretary Kristi Noem to exempt all physicians.

In a press release accompanying introduction of H.R. 7961, Rep. Salazar said, “As our nation faces a growing physician shortage, we must ensure that steep fees do not stand in the way of hospitals bringing in the medical talent American patients depend on.”

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