A Federal Register notice taking effect July 1 introduces a six-month pilot that allows B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) visa applicants to pay a $750 optional fee for an interview slot within 10 business days at select consular posts. The temporary rule, highlighted by immigration law firm Green & Spiegel on June 30, is designed to chip away at interview backlogs that still exceed one year in some cities. The fee will sit on top of the standard $185 MRV fee and will be collected only after the applicant secures a qualifying appointment. Consular officers will not be told which applicants paid, preserving adjudicatory neutrality, but capacity will be capped—raising fears that regular appointments will be pushed further out.
![State Department’s $750 ‘Premium’ Fee for B-1/B-2 Visa Interviews Starts July 1]()
Travelers who want professional guidance navigating these evolving appointment options can turn to VisaHQ, which helps U.S.-bound applicants complete forms, track requirements, and secure interview times through its intuitive online platform. The service (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) aggregates consular availability, sends real-time alerts, and offers document-checking support—streamlining the process whether you opt for the new $750 expedited slot or the regular queue.
For employers moving short-term project staff, the program offers a predictable (if pricey) alternative to last-minute expedite requests. Finance teams should update cost models for international trips that previously relied on walk-in emergency slots. HR should counsel travelers that the fee accelerates scheduling only; it does not shorten administrative processing or guarantee issuance. If successful, the State Department may expand premium scheduling to work visas such as H-1B and L-1. Mobility leaders should track pilot metrics and gather traveler feedback to lobby for broader roll-out—or to argue against a two-tiered system if it disadvantages regular applicants.
Travelers who want professional guidance navigating these evolving appointment options can turn to VisaHQ, which helps U.S.-bound applicants complete forms, track requirements, and secure interview times through its intuitive online platform. The service (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) aggregates consular availability, sends real-time alerts, and offers document-checking support—streamlining the process whether you opt for the new $750 expedited slot or the regular queue.
For employers moving short-term project staff, the program offers a predictable (if pricey) alternative to last-minute expedite requests. Finance teams should update cost models for international trips that previously relied on walk-in emergency slots. HR should counsel travelers that the fee accelerates scheduling only; it does not shorten administrative processing or guarantee issuance. If successful, the State Department may expand premium scheduling to work visas such as H-1B and L-1. Mobility leaders should track pilot metrics and gather traveler feedback to lobby for broader roll-out—or to argue against a two-tiered system if it disadvantages regular applicants.
