InternationalWednesday, 3 June 2026·The Hindu
US H-1B visa fee: Over 2 lakh applicants paid $100,000 in FY 2026, DHS says
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said over 2 lakh H-1B applicants paid $100,000 in fiscal year 2026, with faster processing for such cases.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On June 2, 2026, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that about 2.86 lakh H-1B applications were received in fiscal year 2026 and over 2 lakh applicants paid USD 100,000.
Key specifics
- Applicants who paid USD 100,000 reportedly got processing in about 15 days.
- Other H-1B applications reportedly took about 7.5 months to process.
- Senator Susan Collins raised the issue of a hospital in Presque Isle, northern Maine, paying the fee for a surgeon.
- Senator Lisa Murkowski flagged H-1B concerns for teachers in rural Alaska school districts.
- The hearing was held before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on June 2, 2026.
Exam lens
TNPSC international relations question type: visa policy, U.S. Senate hearing, and labour shortage. Key facts: June 2, 2026, 2.86 lakh applications, over 2 lakh paid USD 100,000, 15-day processing, 7.5-month normal processing.