New H-1B visa fee to deal yet another blow to Guam's health care manpower, senator says

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

The new presidential directive establishing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions would add a new strain on Guam's health care system and construction industry, which both rely on foreign sources for health care and building professionals, Sen. Jesse A. Lujan said.

“This barrier could reduce the hiring of new physicians, pharmacists, therapists, specialists and laboratory professionals who are already in short supply," Lujan said in a letter addressed today to Vince Haley, director of the Domestic Policy Council.

President Donald Trump's proclamation issued on Sept. 19 ordered the imposition of higher costs on companies seeking to use the H-1B program "in order to address the abuse of that program while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers."

Jesse Lujan

"The number of foreign STEM workers in the United States has more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, increasing from 1.2 million to almost 2.5 million, while overall STEM employment has only increased 44.5 percent during that time," reads the proclamation. " And the key facilitator for this influx of foreign STEM labor has been the abuse of the H-1B visa."

Lujan requested the White House to exempt Guam from the new fee policy, citing the island's "unique challenges as a geographically isolated U.S. territory."

He stressed that the island’s limited labor pool and federally designated health care professional shortage areas make H-1B workers vital to maintaining public health services and supporting critical Department of Defense construction projects. 

“Federal policies are not always one-size-fits-all, and sadly many tend to be established without the consideration of the impact they would have on territories,” Lujan added. 

He also warned that the increased visa fee would raise costs for defense contractors tasked with delivering military buildup projects central to U.S. national security in the Indo-Pacific, which also play a vital role in supporting Guam’s economy,” he said.

Lujan asked the federal government to consider establishing categorical exemptions for healthcare professionals and defense-related engineering positions located in Guam.

The senator argued that Guam’s circumstances require tailored solutions to ensure that national mandates do not unintentionally harm the island, its health care system and defense readiness.

"Without an exemption, this policy risks undermining Guam’s ability to care for island residents, including the servicemembers stationed here," Lujan said.

According to the USCIS website, the agency has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal 2026.

The State Department clarified this week that the new $100,000 fee does not apply to existing H-1B visa holders, but only to new applications filed on or after Sept. 21, and does not affect their ability to travel or renew their visas.

The department also clarified that the new policy does not apply to any petitions submitted before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on Sept.. 21. It does not change any payments or fees required to be submitted in connection with any H-1B renewals.

The White House issued a clarification after the initial proclamation, which caused some confusion and anxiety among existing visa holders and their employers.

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