Doctors, nurses await clarity as H-1B fee may hit US offers

Astech workers brace for the impact of Donald Trump's H-1B work visa fees, another category of highly skilled Indian professionals awaits clarity: healthcare professionals.

- Devina Sengupta & Jessica Jani

Thousands of medical and paramedical workers, aswell as researchersin the lifesciences space, work in the US through H-1B visas. Indian physicians, physical therapistsand medical researchers eyeing employment in the US are now left in limbo as the order does not clarify whether they are covered under the newrules.Some are exploring different pathways, suchas the H-4.dependent orJ-1 visa. All these people did not wish to be quoted.

“Unlike the pandemic-re-lated travel ban, when the US government had indicated what visas and or travel would be authorized asnational interest exceptions, this time there is no such indication,” Poorvi Chothani, immi-grationattorney & managing partner, LawQuest.

“Hence, academics and healthcare professionals, including nurses, occupational and physio therapists, etc., will have to wait for more clarity,” said Chothani. “Asofnow, theiremployerswill have to pay $100,000 when fil-inganewH-IBpetitionaswell.”