Houston-based law firm Foster LLP reports that a temporary final rule effective 1 July has created a Premium Expedited Non-immigrant Visa Interview Appointment Service for B-1/B-2 applicants. For an additional US $750 on top of the standard US $185 MRV fee, travelers can secure an interview slot within 10 business days at selected consulates during a six-month pilot ending 31 December. The rule, published in the Federal Register on 9 June, aims to chip away at chronic appointment backlogs that still exceed six months at many high-demand posts. Participation will be limited to “designated missions” yet to be named; insiders expect early roll-outs in Abu Dhabi, New Delhi and São Paulo, where wait times top 200 days. The premium fee buys speed in scheduling only—security checks and visa adjudication timelines remain unchanged, and there is no refund if an applicant is refused. Revenue will offset overtime and contractor costs associated with extended interview windows, the State Department says.
![State Department Launches $750 ‘Premium’ B-1/B-2 Interview-Booking Pilot]()
VisaHQ, the global online visa solutions provider, can streamline this process for both individual travelers and corporate mobility teams. By visiting applicants can access step-by-step guidance, compare processing options, and receive real-time updates from U.S. consulates—making it easier to decide whether the new $750 premium service is worth the investment for a particular trip.
For multinational firms whose executives rely on B-1 visas for urgent travel, the option offers a predictable, if expensive, workaround when standard slots are unavailable. Global mobility teams should weigh the cost against potential project delays and consider budgeting an “expedite allowance” for critical trips. Observers note that the agency once rejected paid fast-track services as inequitable but now frames the pilot as a user-fee model that spares taxpayers. If successful, the program could expand to F, J and H categories in 2027, fundamentally altering the economics of U.S. consular processing.
VisaHQ, the global online visa solutions provider, can streamline this process for both individual travelers and corporate mobility teams. By visiting applicants can access step-by-step guidance, compare processing options, and receive real-time updates from U.S. consulates—making it easier to decide whether the new $750 premium service is worth the investment for a particular trip.
For multinational firms whose executives rely on B-1 visas for urgent travel, the option offers a predictable, if expensive, workaround when standard slots are unavailable. Global mobility teams should weigh the cost against potential project delays and consider budgeting an “expedite allowance” for critical trips. Observers note that the agency once rejected paid fast-track services as inequitable but now frames the pilot as a user-fee model that spares taxpayers. If successful, the program could expand to F, J and H categories in 2027, fundamentally altering the economics of U.S. consular processing.
