Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington have paused H-1B work visa sponsorship following the recently implemented $100,000 fee.
President Donald Trump announced the fee Sept. 19, which applies to new H-1B visa petitions, as of Sept. 21, but does not apply to renewals or previously issued visas.
“Due to the rapidly changing federal situation around employer sponsorship of immigrant workers, Fred Hutch has temporarily paused immigration sponsorship applications for individuals hired after Oct. 1,” a cancer center spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker’s Oct. 15. “While this pause is for new employees only, we are awaiting additional information to determine any potential impacts to conversions, extensions or renewals for current employees with visas.”
The organization had been one of Washington state’s top healthcare employers of H-1B visa holders, with 181 applications approved in the past five years, The Seattle Times reported Oct. 15.
The University of Washington paused H-1B petitions for its medical and academic institutions, including UW Medicine, shortly after the Sept. 19 announcement. The university told the Times the pause only affects new applications and would last until Oct. 8, later extending the pause to Oct. 15. University officials told the newspaper that it did not know whether the pause would be continued.
The University of Washington has offered jobs to about 20 people requiring H-1B sponsorship, with about 75% expected to work for UW Medicine, officials said.
“The uncertainty around visas creates a significant disruption for talented individuals who hope to train and work at UW Medicine,” Tim Dellit, MD, CEO of UW Medicine and dean of the UW School of Medicine, said in a statement shared with Becker’s on Oct. 15. “It represents a loss for the research and education communities, as well as for the vital clinical care we provide on behalf of our patients and the broader community.”
While White House officials have said the fee will address abuses of the visa program, healthcare experts have warned it could worsen personnel shortages. Hospitals and health systems often use H-1B work visas to sponsor physicians and medical residents, and the fee would make it more difficult for them to train and practice.
Immigrants make up 27% of physicians and surgeons, 22% of nursing assistants and 16% of registered nurses in the U.S. Health system leaders told Becker’s in September — before the fee was announced — that visa and travel restrictions could affect the healthcare workforce pipeline.
Foreign clinicians typically enter the U.S. on two visa types: H-1B and J-1. H-1B visas are a temporary professional worker visa for a specialty occupation with “dual intent” — meaning holders can apply for a green card while on H-1B status.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8:20 a.m. Central time on Oct. 16.
