Travelers planning to visit the United States under a tourism or business visa can soon bypass the line and expedite their interview process — for a $750 fee.
Starting July 1, hopeful travelers applying for B1 and B2 nonimmigrant visas can pay a premium to secure an interview within 10 business days at select U.S. embassies and consulates. The temporary pilot program, effective until Dec. 31, will allow applicants to avoid waiting for the next available appointment, which in some cases can take more than a year.
A notice announcing the fast-track program, published this week in the Federal Register, cited a global surge in the demand for visas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and said now was the time to test the service before the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The pilot program comes after the Trump administration’s recent moves that make it harder for certain foreigners to enter the country. In August, the State Department announced a pilot program requiring visitors from countries with high visa overstay rates to pay bonds of up to $15,000. In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced plans to scrutinize foreign tourists’ social media history.
Visa applicants opting for expedited visa interviews will still be required to pay the $185 visa processing fee. The expedited option will be limited in quantity and available only at select embassies or consulates, the list of which was not included in the initial notice.
The $750 premium service does not guarantee that a visa will be issued, and does not expedite the time required for administrative processing.
The pilot program does not apply to visitors from countries that participate in the visa-waiver program, which includes most of Europe, as well as Australia, Chile, Israel, Japan, Qatar, South Korea and the United Kingdom, among other countries.
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