UK Marks Palestinian Statehood Recognition; White House Clarifies H-1B Visa Fee Policy

The Palestinian Mission to the UK in London held a special ceremony on Monday to mark Britain’s recognition of Palestinian statehood, which included raising the Palestinian flag.

Britain joined Australia, Canada, and Portugal on Sunday in officially recognizing a Palestinian state ahead of this week’s UN General Assembly meetings.

Meanwhile, in Washington, the White House on Monday clarified that doctors could be exempt from the Donald Trump administration’s newly announced $100,000 fee for high-skilled H-1B visa applications. Trump had stunned the technology sector on Friday by unveiling the fee hike, sparking alarm among employers and foreign workers. The White House said Saturday that the policy would not apply to current visa holders.

“The Proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Bloomberg News.

Doctors and healthcare leaders warned that the steep new fee could choke off the supply of international medical graduates, especially in rural and underserved communities. “The $100,000 fee risks shutting off the pipeline of highly trained physicians that patients depend on,” said American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala.

Health care employers are among the largest sponsors of H-1B visas, often bringing in medical residents and specialized doctors from abroad. According to KFF, more than 76 million Americans live in areas with a shortage of primary care physicians. Hospitals like Mayo Clinic, which holds more than 300 approved visas, could see millions added to labor costs if the rule is enforced.

The change has rattled medical workers in India, a top source of immigrant doctors and nurses in the US. About 22% of immigrant physicians in the country hail from India, according to financial services provider Remitly.