The U.S. Department of State will soon begin a pilot program for expedited B1/B2 visa appointments at a cost of $750. This will enable applicants to obtain an interview appointment for selected positions within 10 days. The pilot project will run from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.The $740 fee is in addition to the standard $185 visa application fee. This will only allow visa applicants to get a quick interview appointment without speeding up visa processing. Only B1/B2 visa applicants traveling to the United States for tourism or business purposes can apply for this premium service.Generally, under special circumstances, applicants can apply for free and receive expedited interviews through three channels. In each case, the applicant must still prove that he or she is eligible for the requested visa category. All require personal intervention by consular and embassy staff under strict standards.
- A “recommendation” process in which senior U.S. government employees at U.S. diplomatic missions in the country vouch for the applicant and certify that his or her travel will benefit U.S. interests.
- With “Priority Appointment Requests,” authorized U.S. Government employees at U.S. diplomatic missions may request consular services to advance appointments with contacts who promote U.S. national interests.
- Expedited Request by Applicant: In extreme circumstances, applicants may request an expedited appointment to travel for humanitarian reasons or other position-specific criteria for emergency travel. Consular managers review each request after the fact.
However, after the new fees are adopted, a written application is not required.Experts say it would be a useful measure for those holding emergency business meetings in the United States. Immigration lawyer Adrian Pandev said: “Spending $750 to attend an important business meeting or conference instead of waiting for months at a busy consulate? Many people will not hesitate to pay this fee.” “Considering that some people need to travel at short notice, this is not a bad thing,” commented lawyer Steven Brown.Travel to the United States has become more difficult under the Trump administration due to several new visa regulations. While some countries are on the U.S. travel ban list, some nationals must pay $15 million for a B1 or B2 visa. Visa appointment wait times have also increased around the world.
