For years, the H-1B visa has been one of the most sought-after pathways for skilled foreign workers hoping to build a career in the United States. Now, new figures from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suggest that demand remains remarkably strong, even after the introduction of a controversial $100,000 processing fee.
Speaking before a Senate panel this week, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin revealed that more than 200,000 H-1B applications went through the $100,000 route during fiscal year 2026, allowing employers to bring workers into the country faster.
"We had 286,000 applicants a year to date for the H-1B visas; out of those, over 200,000 of them paid USD 100,000 to be able to come in because it allows us to process them in a little bit faster," Mullin told lawmakers.
According to Mullin, the agency has received about 286,000 H-1B applications so far this year, meaning a significant majority went through the higher-cost route.
David Adubiina
Why are employers paying $100,000 to hire skilled talent faster?
The DHS figures presented at the hearing come even as the H-1B program has seen fewer overall registrations. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), data show that total registrations fell from 479,953 in FY 2025 to 358,737 in FY 2026, a decline of nearly 27%.
Despite this, demand remains concentrated among Indian professionals, who account for roughly 71% of H-1B beneficiaries, highlighting how dependent many U.S. employers remain on a foreign skilled workforce, particularly in technology and engineering roles.
In many countries, $100,000 is equivalent to a home down payment or several years' worth of income. Yet thousands of employers appear willing to absorb the cost if it means bringing skilled workers into the United States more quickly.
Mullin told lawmakers that applications that go through the $100,000 route can be processed in roughly 15 days, compared with an average wait time of around seven and a half months through other channels.
"If you're willing to pay the $100,000, we'll process it in 15 days. Otherwise, you're looking at about seven-and-a-half months," he said during the hearing.
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The numbers suggest that for many employers facing talent shortages, speed may be worth the price.
For employers trying to fill specialized positions, waiting several months for a visa decision can delay hiring plans and leave critical roles vacant. Faster processing allows companies to bring in workers more quickly, particularly in industries where qualified talent is in short supply.
The discussion emerged during a broader conversation about workforce shortages across the country, especially in healthcare and education.
Some lawmakers raised concerns about whether hospitals, schools, and rural communities would be able to compete for foreign talent if employers are expected to pay such high fees.
Mullin acknowledged those concerns and suggested that the department may have flexibility to waive the fee in certain cases.
"There are some exemptions that we can do administratively," he said, noting that DHS is examining options for occupations facing severe worker shortages.
As debates around the policy continue, the strain between tighter immigration rules and employers reliant on foreign talent is starting to show a fault line under pressure, with some supporters of the higher fee arguing that this helps to give back jobs to American skilled workers and filter out fraudulent applications. Critics, however, say it risks pricing out smaller firms and public-sector employers that already struggle to compete for skilled workers.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
