The United States is preparing to launch a new “premium” service for tourist and business visa applicants, which will allow them to secure an interview appointment within 10 days for an additional fee of $750.
According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, the US State Department’s pilot program is expected to begin on July 1 and run until December 31, 2026. The new fee will be added to the standard $185 fee, bringing the total cost to $935 for those who choose the expedited procedure.
The service is designed as an optional service for tourist and business visa applicants and aims to reduce the long delays experienced at many U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. Applicants who pay the additional fee will be able to book an interview within 10 days of payment, at select diplomatic missions.
US authorities emphasize that payment does not guarantee visa approval. The program comes at a time when waits for interviews in some countries last months, especially where the Visa Waiver Program does not apply.
The State Department is expected to soon publish the list of embassies and consulates that will offer this service, while the possibility of the initiative expanding beyond the pilot phase, if it proves successful, is not ruled out.