The Trump administration’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee is raising concerns for US schools, universities and hospitals. Struggling with staff shortages, these institutions fear they may be unable to fill essential teaching and medical positions. Officials warn the hike could force service cuts or hiring uncertified workers, affecting quality care and education.
Rural schools, like Crow Creek Tribal School in South Dakota, rely on H-1B visa holders to fill teaching vacancies. Without these teachers, schools may combine classes, reduce courses, or hire uncertified staff, threatening educational quality and student outcomes in under-served areas.
Rural hospitals face critical staffing gaps, with many doctors on H-1B visas. The $100,000 fee could prevent hiring of essential international medical graduates, worsening physician shortages, increasing patient wait times, and limiting healthcare services in communities where local candidates are few.
Unions, educators, healthcare groups, and religious organisations have filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s new H-1B fee. They claim it oversteps presidential authority and threatens essential services, highlighting widespread concerns about its impact on rural schools, hospitals, and community well-being.
Rural towns face unique recruitment challenges due to isolation and lower wages. The H-1B visa fee may force school districts and hospitals to reduce services or hire less qualified staff, leaving students and patients without the care and instruction they need most.
Leading US universities, including Stanford, and Washington University in St. Louis, depend on H-1B visa holders for faculty and staff. According to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Stanford employs over 500 H-1B staff, meaning the $100,000 fee could cost at least $27 million annually, threatening recruitment, retention and academic programmes.
Other top US universities, including Columbia University, Harvard, Emory University and University of Florida, hire hundreds of international staff annually. Experts estimate the new $100,000 H-1B fee could add $10–20 million in costs each year, threatening hiring and operational budgets.
Changes in H-1B visa rules have contributed to declining international student enrolment. Universities that rely on foreign talent are struggling to attract graduate students and researchers, which could affect research output, classroom diversity, and global competitiveness in higher education.
