More than 200,000 foreign workers seeking H-1B visas have paid a steep fee to fast-track their applications this fiscal year, according to testimony from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin before a Senate panel on Tuesday.
Speaking during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, Mullin said the Department of Homeland Security has received roughly 286,000 H-1B visa applications so far in fiscal year 2026. Of those, more than 200,000 applicants opted to pay for expedited processing.
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“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 of a manner,” Mullin told lawmakers.
The secretary said applications submitted through the premium processing pathway are currently handled in about 15 days, compared with roughly seven-and-a-half months under the standard process. The figures drew attention as senators discussed labor shortages affecting critical sectors across the country, particularly in rural communities.
The issue was raised by Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who pointed to a hospital in Presque Isle that recently paid the expedited processing fee to recruit a surgeon from overseas. Collins argued that healthcare providers in remote regions often face unique staffing challenges and should not be treated the same as large employers competing for highly skilled talent in major economic hubs.
“Would you be willing to consider carving out an exemption for medical professionals from this fee when a community can demonstrate that there is not a medical professional available?” Collins questioned.
Mullin responded that he was open to reviewing the matter and examining whether additional flexibility could be offered in cases involving essential workforce shortages.
He told the committee that DHS would explore potential options and consider whether applications tied to critical positions could receive different treatment on a case-by-case basis.
Collins emphasized that the needs of rural hospitals differ significantly from those of major technology companies.
“I would suggest that there’s a huge difference between bringing in a computer expert from another country to work in wealthy California and Silicon Valley versus a much-needed surgeon to work at a rural hospital in northern Maine,” Collins said.
The conversation later broadened beyond healthcare. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska highlighted ongoing teacher shortages in rural school districts and suggested that H-1B visa policies may also need to account for challenges faced by educators in underserved communities.
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“I’ll follow up with you about the issue that I raised previously with regards to H-1B visas for teachers,” Murkowski stated to Mullin.
As DHS reviews potential adjustments, healthcare providers and educators in underserved regions will be watching closely to see whether exemptions or special considerations emerge for occupations facing acute shortages.