The US State Department is set to launch a pilot project offering expedited B1/B2 visa interview appointments for an additional fee of $750.
Under this pilot programme, applicants will be able to get an interview appointment at selected US consulates within 10 days. The project will run from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
The $750 fee will be in addition to the regular $185 visa application fee. However, the payment will only help applicants secure a faster interview slot. It will not speed up visa processing or guarantee visa approval.
The premium appointment option will be available only for B1/B2 visa applicants. These visas are meant for those travelling to the US for business or tourism purposes.
At present, applicants can request expedited interviews at no extra cost only under exceptional circumstances. These requests usually require strict review and intervention by consular or mission staff.
There are currently three main ways to seek an expedited appointment.
The first is through the “Referral” process, where a senior US government employee at a diplomatic mission vouches for the applicant and confirms that the travel benefits US interests.
The second is the “Priority Appointment Request,” under which an authorised US government employee may ask the consular section to provide an earlier appointment for a person whose travel serves US national interests.
The third is an applicant-requested expedite request. This applies to extreme cases, such as urgent humanitarian reasons or other post-specific emergency travel needs. Such requests are reviewed by consular managers.
However, under the new paid pilot programme, applicants will not need to submit a written request to justify the urgency.
Experts say the new system could be useful for people who need to attend urgent business meetings, conferences or important events in the US.
“$750 to make an important business meeting or conference instead of waiting months at a busy consulate? A lot of people will pay that without thinking twice,” immigration attorney Adrian Pandev said.
Attorney Steven Brown also said the move may help those who need to travel at short notice.
“Considering some folks need to travel on short notice, this isn’t a bad thing,” he said.
Travel to the US has become more difficult under the Trump administration due to several new visa rules. Some countries are already on the US travel ban list, while nationals of certain countries reportedly face much higher visa-related costs.
In many countries, waiting times for US visa appointments have also increased sharply, making the new premium appointment option attractive for applicants who can afford the extra fee.
