The U.S. Department of State has confirmed that—beginning 1 July 2026—certain U.S. embassies and consulates will offer an optional US$750 “premium” fee that guarantees applicants a B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) visa-interview slot within 10 business days of payment. The six-month pilot will run through 31 December 2026 and will be restricted to a limited number of posts that have yet to be publicly identified.
![State Department Launches $750 Fast-Track Pilot for B-1/B-2 Visa Interview Appointments]()
If you need assistance navigating U.S. visitor-visa requirements—or any other travel documentation—VisaHQ’s specialists can streamline the process, monitor appointment availability, and handle paperwork on your behalf. Learn more about how their online tools can support your organization at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/
State’s temporary final rule describes the service as a mechanism to “provide urgent travelers with predictable access to appointments while helping posts manage demand that still far exceeds pre-pandemic levels.” Median global wait time for a visitor-visa appointment is about 30 days, but at dozens of high-volume posts—including Mumbai, Manila and Mexico City—waits can exceed a year. The premium is in addition to the standard US$185 MRV fee and covers only the scheduling of the interview, not the visa decision. Paying the fee does not influence the adjudication outcome, and all security and eligibility screening remains unchanged. Applicants who pay but fail to appear will not receive a refund. For corporate mobility managers the pilot offers a new—but costly—tool for short-notice executive travel. Multinational employers should weigh the fee against current local wait times and consider reserving it for revenue-critical trips (e.g., tenders, board meetings, urgent equipment repairs). Companies may also need to update travel-authorization workflows so that the extra cost is approved in advance and centrally tracked for budget and compliance purposes. If the program proves popular, State has hinted it may add posts or make the service permanent. Observers will watch closely whether the pilot alleviates backlog pressure or diverts scarce interview slots away from other visa classes such as H-1B and L-1, which continue to experience lengthy waits in many jurisdictions.
If you need assistance navigating U.S. visitor-visa requirements—or any other travel documentation—VisaHQ’s specialists can streamline the process, monitor appointment availability, and handle paperwork on your behalf. Learn more about how their online tools can support your organization at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/
State’s temporary final rule describes the service as a mechanism to “provide urgent travelers with predictable access to appointments while helping posts manage demand that still far exceeds pre-pandemic levels.” Median global wait time for a visitor-visa appointment is about 30 days, but at dozens of high-volume posts—including Mumbai, Manila and Mexico City—waits can exceed a year. The premium is in addition to the standard US$185 MRV fee and covers only the scheduling of the interview, not the visa decision. Paying the fee does not influence the adjudication outcome, and all security and eligibility screening remains unchanged. Applicants who pay but fail to appear will not receive a refund. For corporate mobility managers the pilot offers a new—but costly—tool for short-notice executive travel. Multinational employers should weigh the fee against current local wait times and consider reserving it for revenue-critical trips (e.g., tenders, board meetings, urgent equipment repairs). Companies may also need to update travel-authorization workflows so that the extra cost is approved in advance and centrally tracked for budget and compliance purposes. If the program proves popular, State has hinted it may add posts or make the service permanent. Observers will watch closely whether the pilot alleviates backlog pressure or diverts scarce interview slots away from other visa classes such as H-1B and L-1, which continue to experience lengthy waits in many jurisdictions.
