Internationally trained healthcare workers – many of whom have earned their degrees or completed clinical training in the United States – help fill growing gaps in our nation’s healthcare workforce. But following the implementation of a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions last year, many employers have struggled to hire these vital professionals at a time when America’s healthcare shortage is reaching crisis levels.

To address this challenge, the bipartisan H-1Bs for the Physicians and Healthcare Workforce Act (H.R. 7961) would exempt physicians and other healthcare professionals, including physical and occupational therapists, from the onerous $100,000 filing fee on new H-1B visa petitions. Without this legislation, it will become increasingly difficult for clinics to hire international talent, with major repercussions for access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities.

APTQI urges you to act now to ensure that healthcare workers are exempted. Please send a letter to your legislator asking them to support bipartisan legislation to support our nation’s healthcare workforce.