Key facts
- A new $750 fee will allow certain U.S. visa applicants to secure an interview appointment within 10 business days.
- The pilot program is set to launch on July 1, 2026, and will be available at select overseas posts.
- The expedited option is for B-1 and B-2 visa applicants, targeting tourists and business travelers.
- The fee does not guarantee visa approval or expedite administrative processing.
- Applicants must first schedule a standard appointment before requesting the expedited upgrade.
- The total cost for an expedited visa, including the standard application fee, will be $935.
The U.S. State Department is introducing a new $750 fee as part of a pilot program designed to help certain travelers bypass long visa interview wait times. This initiative aims to test whether applicants are willing to pay for faster access and if it can alleviate pressure on consular systems, which are currently experiencing severe backlogs, with waits extending beyond a year in some countries.
The program, set to launch on July 1, 2026, and run until December 31, 2026, will be available at a limited number of overseas posts. It specifically targets applicants for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visas. Applicants must first complete the standard application process, including paying the $185 visa application fee and scheduling a regular appointment, before they can request an upgrade to an expedited slot.
If an expedited appointment becomes available, applicants will have a short window, typically five to 10 minutes, to pay the non-refundable $750 fee to secure the slot. The State Department emphasizes that this fee does not guarantee visa approval, nor does it speed up any administrative processing or background checks. The total cost for an applicant using this expedited service will be $935.
Some experts, like Alan Fyall from the University of Central Florida, suggest the program may be too late to significantly help international fans trying to secure visas for events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The State Department has stated that the fee is intended to test market willingness to pay for faster access and to help manage overstretched consular resources.