US Introduces $750 Premium Service to Fast-Track Visa Interview Appointments
The United States Department of State has unveiled a new premium visa interview service that will allow B1/B2 visa applicants to secure interview appointments within 10 business days for an additional fee of $750.
The initiative, announced in a notice published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2026, is part of a pilot programme scheduled to run from July 1 to December 31, 2026. The service will be available only at selected U.S. embassies and consulates.
According to the State Department, the optional programme is designed to help applicants who require faster interview appointments amid growing demand and lengthy waiting periods at several U.S. missions worldwide.
“This temporary final rule is designed to collect information from select countries about the demand for a fee-based process to expedite a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment,” the department stated.
Officials said the programme is also intended to improve the efficiency of visa scheduling systems and assess whether applicants are willing to pay for accelerated appointments.
The U.S. government, however, stressed that paying the expedited appointment fee does not guarantee visa approval or issuance.
“An expedited visa appointment in no way guarantees visa issuance,” the department said, noting that applicants must still satisfy all existing visa requirements, including security screenings and consular interviews.
The State Department cited increasing demand and extended wait times in several countries, particularly in Africa, as one of the reasons for introducing the pilot scheme.
In Nigeria, for instance, applicants seeking B1/B2 visas at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja currently face an average interview wait time of about 11.5 months.
“At certain posts, wait times exceed 12 months, making it difficult for some applicants to apply for visas for urgent or last-minute travel,” the rule explained.
The department also linked the programme to anticipated increases in international travel ahead of major global events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Under the new arrangement, applicants must first complete the standard visa application process and secure a regular interview appointment before becoming eligible to request an expedited slot.
“If the applicant then wishes to schedule an earlier (expedited) appointment, he or she will so indicate, at which point he or she will see the available expedited appointments within the next ten business days,” the department stated.
Applicants who opt for the service will be required to pay the standard $185 non-immigrant visa application fee in addition to the $750 expedited appointment charge.
Describing the initiative as a cost-recovery pilot programme, the State Department said the service would remain optional and available only at designated overseas missions during the trial period.
“This service will be offered as an optional premium addition to the standard NIV application fee,” the department said, adding that it would be available at limited overseas posts throughout the duration of the temporary rule.