'Many may simply stop coming': How H-1B visa fee hike has sparked alarm among Indian doctors in US

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Indian doctors across the United States have voiced strong concerns over a proposed hike in H-1B visa fees, warning that it could worsen the already severe shortage of healthcare professionals in rural America. Last month, the Donald Trump administration announced plans to raise the H-1B visa fee for new skilled-worker applicants to $100,000, sending shockwaves through the medical community.

While the White House later clarified that existing visa holders would not be affected and that exemptions might be considered “in the national interest,” the lack of clear guidance has left thousands of foreign-trained doctors anxious about their future in the country.

Foreign-trained physicians make up nearly 25 percent of the US doctor workforce, and 64 percent of them serve in underserved rural areas that American graduates often avoid due to lower pay and fewer resources, according to the BBC. Many of these doctors rely on H-1B visas and spend years, sometimes their entire careers, waiting for permanent residency.

One such doctor is Dr Mahesh Anantha, a gold medallist from Madras Medical College who works as an interventional cardiologist in Arkansas. “There is no other medical facility around for an hour or two’s drive, so people rely on us for everything," he told the BBC. His hospital serves as a lifeline for dozens of surrounding communities, but he and others fear that higher visa fees could dissuade hospitals from hiring foreign-trained clinicians, particularly in remote regions already struggling to attract doctors.

Dr Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association and the first Indian-origin doctor to hold the position, said the new fees could be devastating for smaller hospitals. “We have heard from health systems who say this fee would be devastating," he warned. He added that such costs could limit access to care in communities that need it the most.

More than 50 medical organizations, led by the AMA, have urged Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to reconsider the policy, arguing that immigrant physicians are not displacing American doctors but “filling critical gaps in care."

Dr Satheesh Kathula, president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, noted that the issue is about more than economics. “Most of these doctors came here to serve in shortage areas under federal waivers," he said. He added, “If this policy continues, many may simply stop coming."

Experts warn that any disruption in the flow of foreign-trained doctors could worsen the projected shortfall of 124,000 physicians by 2034, putting further strain on the nation’s healthcare system.