Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee threatens rural schools and hospitals and why it could devastate essential services

The Trump administration’s announcement of a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications is raising concerns about its impact on rural schools and hospitals across the US. The fee targets employers hiring skilled immigrant workers under the H-1B visa, a programme widely used in sectors like education and healthcare. Rural communities, already struggling with staff shortages, fear that the increased cost could make it impossible to fill vital positions. Superintendents and healthcare officials in small towns warn that this fee hike could force them to reduce services or hire uncertified workers, threatening the quality of education and healthcare. Many of these areas rely heavily on immigrant teachers and doctors, who fill roles that locals are either unavailable or unwilling to take.