The U.S. Department of State has published a Temporary Final Rule in the Federal Register creating a US$750 Expedited Interview Appointment Fee for B-1/B-2 visitor-visa applicants. The pilot, effective July 1–December 31, 2026, allows applicants at selected embassies or consulates to obtain an interview slot within ten business days of payment—dramatically faster than current wait times that exceed six months in many posts. Unlike premium-processing for employment petitions, the fee accelerates only appointment scheduling; visa eligibility standards remain unchanged, and issuance is not guaranteed. The State Department says the proof-of-concept will gauge demand and help it model cost recovery for future service tiers. Posts participating in the pilot will be listed on travel.state.gov before launch. For corporate travel and mobility teams, the pilot could be a game-changer during the busy summer-conference season and ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Employees who need urgent travel clearance for client meetings, site visits or project kick-offs may opt to pay the fee instead of rescheduling business commitments. Companies should build the extra cost into travel budgets and develop internal guidelines so that the premium service is used strategically. Practitioners caution that availability will be limited and that applicants must still clear security and administrative processing. Mobility managers should therefore track local wait-time dashboards daily and pair the expedited appointment with robust document preparation to avoid refusal or 221(g) delays. If successful, the pilot could pave the way for tiered, user-pays service models across nonimmigrant categories—a significant shift from the State Department’s traditionally flat-fee structure. Overseas posts with chronic backlogs, such as Mumbai, São Paulo and Manila, are expected to see the highest demand.
Source: Federal Register
