Visitor Visa Applicants Can Now Pay $750 to Skip Long Appointment Queues
Starting July 1, 2026, the State Department is testing a temporary paid expedited service for B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants at select embassies and consulates, allowing faster interviews within 10 business days—useful for family reunions and business travel during the FIFA World Cup.
New Fast-Track Option Debuts
Under a new State Department pilot program in effect from July 1 to December 31, 2026, certain U.S. consular posts will permit B-1/B-2 visa applicants to secure a consular visa appointment within 10 business days if the applicant pays an additional fee of $750. Although the global median wait time for nonimmigrant visa interviews is approximately 30 days, some U.S. embassies and consulates have reported B1/B2 interview wait times exceeding 12 months, and for travelers with time-sensitive business, conference, medical, family, or tourism plans, long wait times can significantly disrupt travel planning.
How It Works
Beginning July 1, 2026, certain B1/B2 business and tourist visa applicants may pay an additional $750 expedited interview fee to request a visa interview appointment within 10 business days at select U.S. embassies and consulates, which is separate from the regular B1/B2 visa application fee, which remains $185. The expedite fee does not speed up the adjudication of the B visa application.
Key Limitations
The $750 fee only applies to the interview appointment and does not guarantee visa issuance, lower the legal standard for approval, or accelerate administrative processing. This service will be an optional premium addition to the standard NIV application fee and will be offered only to applicants at limited posts as published on travel.state.gov and in limited quantities.
If your family overseas needs to visit and your consulate is facing a long queue, this paid option might help speed up an appointment—especially useful if you're planning a family reunion before the pilot ends December 31. Check travel.state.gov to see if your nearest post participates and whether slots remain. Remember: the fee only moves your interview date sooner, not the visa decision itself.
Sources
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