DHS secretary says more than 200,000 H-1B applicants paid $100,000 for faster processing
The Facts
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing that DHS had received about 286,000 H-1B applications in fiscal year 2026.
- Mullin said more than 200,000 H-1B applicants paid a $100,000 fee for faster processing.
- According to Mullin's testimony, applicants who paid the $100,000 fee could have their cases processed in about 15 days.
- Mullin said other H-1B applications were taking about 7.5 months to process, creating a large gap between paid expedited cases and standard processing.
- The issue came up during questioning from Sen. Susan Collins, who raised concerns about shortages in rural areas, including a hospital in northern Maine that paid the fee to recruit a surgeon from overseas.
- Mullin said DHS has flexibility to waive or provide relief from the new $100,000 H-1B fee in some cases, signaling that exemptions may be possible.
How left and right are reading this
- Both agree
- A 15-day fast track for those who can pay $100,000, alongside 7.5-month waits for everyone else, amounts to a visa system sorted by money rather than a predictable baseline process — a premise neither framing disputes.
- They split on
- Less a disagreement than a question of emphasis: whether the fee structure is most troubling because it overrides need, including rural shortages, or because it replaces a predictable baseline with a pay-to-expedite queue.
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore
Context
What did Mullin say the fee changes for applicants?
He said paying the $100,000 fee allows DHS to process H-1B applications in about 15 days, while other applications take about 7.5 months Hindustan Times,ThePrint,@businessline.
Why were senators focused on this at the hearing?
Sen. Susan Collins linked the fee to labor shortages in rural communities, citing a Maine hospital that paid it to secure a surgeon from overseas, and other lawmakers also raised staffing concerns affecting rural schools and hospitals Economic Times,cnbctv18.com,ThePrint.
Is the $100,000 fee fixed in all cases?
Not necessarily. Mullin said DHS has some flexibility to waive the fee or provide relief in certain cases, though the sources shown do not detail how broad that relief would be or who would qualify news.bloomberglaw.c…,Economic Times.
View all 51 sources
Independent coverage (50)
Tickle The WireMullin Dodges Questions Over Whether DHS Will Follow Court O...
THE LOCAL REPORT ARTICLESMore than 200,000 people paid $100,000 H-1B visa fee to proc...
International Business Times, India EditionUS prepares massive security operation for 2026 World Cup, D...
dtNext.inOver two lakh applicants paid USD one lakh for H-1B visas: D...
Economic TimesUS DHS chief Mullin signals flexibility on $100,000 H-1B vis...
Hindustan TimesOver 200,000 people paid $100k H-1B visa fee to process appl...
Economic TimesMore than two lakh H-1B applicants paid $100,000 for entry t...
metrovaartha.comOver two lakh applicants paid USD one lakh for H-1B visas: D...
Deccan ChronicleOver 2 Lakh Applicants Paid $1 Lakh for H-1B Visas: DHS Secr...
The New Indian ExpressOver 2 lakh applicants paid USD 100,000 for H-1B visas in FY...
ETV Bharat NewsOver 2 Lakh Applicants Paid 100,000 Dollars For H-1B visas: ...
KOCOMarkwayne Mullin faces sharp questions on Capitol Hill regar...
cnbctv18.comOver 200,000 H-1B applicants paid $100,000 for 15-day US vis...
newKerala.comUS Preps Massive Security for 2026 World Cup
The HinduOver two lakh applicants paid $100,000 for H-1B visas: DHS S...
Mangalorean.comUS prepares massive security operation for 2026 World Cup, D...
Ommcom NewsUS Senators Press DHS On H-1B Fee For Rural Doctors
Ommcom NewsUS Lawmakers Seek H-1B Relief For Foreign Teachers
@businesslineOver 2 lakh applicants paid for faster H-1B visa processing ...
Ommcom NewsUS DHS Chief Clashes With Democrats On Court Rulings
ThePrintOver two lakh applicants paid USD one lakh for H-1B visas: D...
News18Over two lakh applicants paid USD one lakh for H-1B visas: D...
NewserMullin Refuses to Promise DHS Will Obey Court Orders
newKerala.comH-1B Visa Relief Sought for Foreign Teachers in Rural US
bizzbuzz.newsSenators Push for Relief: Rural Hospitals Struggle with $100...
newKerala.comSenators seek H-1B fee relief for rural doctors
ArcaMaxHomeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin refuses to comm...
The Right ScoopBOOM VIDEO - Markwayne Mullin gives GREAT answer to Dem on w...
BeritajaHomeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin Refuses To Comm...
Los Angeles TimesHomeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin refuses to comm...
YahooHomeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin refuses to comm...
KOCODHS Sec. Mullin gets into back-and-forth with senator who ac...
Alternet.orgTrump official repeatedly refuses to follow judges' orders
Washington PostDHS chief dodges questions on obeying court orders
Washington ExaminerMullin cites 'politicized' courts in refusal to commit to DH...
WND'Reckless': DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin defends ICE agent...
CNHI NewsUS Senate panel pans DHS plan to stop customs processing at ...
MediaiteDHS Sec Mullin Floors Senate Democrat With Jaw-Dropping Answ...
Owensboro Messenger-InquirerMullin defends $118B Homeland Security budget request
The Delta NewsMullin defends $118B Homeland Security budget request
Economic Times'Biden IGNORED immigration laws': Sen. Kennedy, Mullin vs Mu...
news.bloomberglaw.comHomeland's Mullin Signals Flexibility on $100,000 H-1B Visa ...
BreitbartWatch DHS Chief Markwayne Mullin Trash Democrat Sen. Patrick...
YahooMullin Won't Commit To Following Court Orders Because He Doe...
news.bloomberglaw.comMullin Derides 'Political' Courts, Ducks DHS Compliance Ques...
RedstateDHS Sec. Mullin Delivers Epic Takedown of Chris Murphy and H...
BreitbartWatch Live: DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin Testifies Before ...
Washington ExaminerWATCH LIVE: Mullin testifies before Senate on budget request
PBS.orgWATCH LIVE: Mullin testifies on DHS budget before Senate App...
The New RepublicDHS Secretary Refuses Again and Again to Say He'll Follow Co...
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