Over 200,000 Pay $100,000 for Fast H‑1B Processing, DHS Says

Despite a significant new fee, demand for expedited processing of H.S.-1B visas remains exceptionally high, according to testimony from the Department of Homeland Security. Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a Senate panel that more than 200,000 applicants have paid a $100,000 fee to have their applications processed faster during the current fiscal year.

Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, Mullin said the department has received approximately 286,000 H-1B applications so far this fiscal year. He stated that applicants who pay the premium fee can have their cases adjudicated in about 15 days, compared to a standard processing time of roughly seven and a half months. The H-1B program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialized occupations, such as technology, engineering, and medicine, when qualified domestic candidates are not readily available.

The fee was implemented by the administration last year. Officials have described it as a measure to tighten oversight of the program and encourage the hiring of American workers. The discussion during the hearing, however, quickly turned to the policy's impact on sectors like healthcare and education,...