Getting a visa to visit the United States may soon become faster for some travelers, but at a cost. Starting July 1, 2026, applicants for B1 and B2 nonimmigrant visas (NIV) for business and tourism purposes will have the option to pay an additional fee to secure an earlier interview appointment. This change is part of a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) effective from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, as announced by the US State Department.
Details of the Expedited Visa Service
The US State Department describes this initiative as a "proof-of-concept" pilot program designed to assess demand for expedited services. According to the regulations.gov website, the TFR temporarily amends the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services to create a $750 fee for a new service. This service allows B1/B2 NIV applicants to obtain an expedited interview appointment within ten business days after paying the fee, subject to availability at selected overseas posts. The list of participating posts will be published on travel.state.gov.
The expedited service is exclusively available to B1/B2 NIV applicants. During the pilot, applicants at identified posts can pay the $750 fee to move to the front of the appointment line without providing written justification or seeking personal intervention through the Priority Appointment Request or Referrals processes. Recipients will also receive enhanced passback options for passport return, if available.
Important Conditions
Applicants who opt for the expedited appointment must still meet all standard visa eligibility and processing requirements, including any administrative processing. An expedited interview does not guarantee visa issuance, and it does not expedite processing steps beyond scheduling the interview and returning the passport. The service is capped at a percentage of each post's overall interviewing capacity, so it is not expected to significantly affect wait times for other applicants.
Consular managers at both pilot and non-pilot posts retain the ability to expedite interviews without a fee for humanitarian reasons or urgent travel in the US national interest, such as serious medical treatment.
Why the US is Introducing This Service
The US State Department regularly reviews consular fees to ensure they reflect the special benefits derived from federal activities. Currently, there are three no-cost avenues for expedited interviews in exceptional circumstances: the Referral process (vouched by a senior US government employee), the Priority Appointment Request (by an authorized US employee for national interest), and the Applicant-Requested Expedite (for humanitarian or urgent travel). All require personal intervention and strict criteria.
These resource-intensive methods strain the Department's capacity. The new fee-based service reduces this strain by bypassing justification requirements and staff review of expedited requests. Additionally, while the median global wait time for an NIV appointment is about 30 days, some posts have wait times exceeding 12 months, making it difficult for last-minute travel. In the wake of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, the Department sees an opportunity to test demand for this service.
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