US Says Over 200,000 H-1B Applicants Opted for USD 100,000 Fast-Track Processing

More than two lakh applicants opted to pay a USD 100,000 fee under the H-1B visa programme in fiscal year 2026, US Department of Homeland Security officials told lawmakers, highlighting strong demand for expedited processing amid a heavy application load.

Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security , Markwayne Mullin said the department received around 286,000 H-1B applications so far this fiscal year. He said over 200,000 applicants chose the premium payment route to fast-track their petitions.

Mullin said premium applicants had their cases processed in about 15 days , compared with nearly 7.5 months under standard processing, adding that the system was designed to reduce backlogs and improve efficiency.

During the hearing, Susan Collins raised concerns about shortages of doctors in rural areas, citing a hospital in Maine that reportedly paid the fee to hire an overseas surgeon. She urged consideration of exemptions for critical healthcare workers in underserved regions. Lisa Murkowski also highlighted shortages of teachers in rural Alaska and called for greater flexibility for education staffing needs.

Recent developments show growing scrutiny of the policy, with legal challenges arguing over the government’s authority to impose such a high fee and whether it amounts to an unlawful levy. Court proceedings are ongoing, with no final nationwide ruling yet.

Officials have also indicated possible case-by-case flexibility for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, though no formal exemption framework has been announced.

Lawmakers have expanded the debate beyond doctors to include nurses, teachers and other rural workforce shortages, increasing pressure on the administration to refine implementation guidelines while the broader H-1B system remains under review.