The State Department is launching a paid fast-track system for B1/B2 (tourist and business) visa applicants. Starting July 1, 2026, applicants at select overseas posts can pay a $750 fee on top of the standard $185 visa application fee to secure an interview appointment within 10 business days — no justification required.

Key Points

  • What: New optional $750 fee to skip the line and get a B1/B2 visa interview within 10 business days
  • Who: B1/B2 (tourist/business) nonimmigrant visa applicants at select overseas embassies and consulates
  • When: Effective July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 (6-month pilot program)
  • Impact: Applicants at posts with wait times exceeding 12 months can now pay to move to the front of the interview queue

What's Actually Changing

Right now, the only ways to get a faster visa interview are through humanitarian requests, government referrals, or a US official personally vouching for you — all resource-intensive, case-by-case processes with strict criteria.

This pilot removes that friction for B1/B2 applicants willing to pay. Here's how it works:

  1. Complete your DS-160 application and pay the standard $185 MRV fee
  2. Schedule a regular (non-expedited) appointment as usual
  3. If expedited slots are available at your post, you'll see appointments within the next 10 business days
  4. Select one — you'll have a 5–10 minute window to pay the $750 fee before the slot is released
  5. Miss the payment window and you lose the slot; cancel or no-show and you forfeit the $750

Important: Paying $750 gets you a faster interview — nothing more. It does not guarantee visa approval, skip administrative processing (background checks, etc.), or speed up any other step. All standard eligibility requirements still apply.

Why Now?

The State Department cites two drivers: the 2026 FIFA World Cup and preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While the median global wait time for a visa interview is about 30 days, some posts have wait times exceeding 12 months. The agency is treating this as a proof-of-concept pilot, projecting roughly 25,000 expedited appointments over six months.

The $750 fee reflects the department's full cost-recovery model — the same methodology used for all consular fees. The standard $185 MRV fee is not changing.

What This Doesn't Do

  • It's not available everywhere — only at selected embassies listed on travel.state.gov
  • It's not unlimited — slots are capped as a percentage of each post's interview capacity
  • It won't noticeably slow down regular applicants — the department says capped availability protects standard wait times
  • Humanitarian and urgent cases will still be expedited for free through existing processes

What You Should Do

If you're a B1/B2 applicant facing long wait times: Check travel.state.gov after July 1 to see if your target embassy is participating. If you have time-sensitive travel coming up, this paid option may be worth exploring — but budget $935 total ($185 MRV + $750 expedite fee) and understand that approval is never guaranteed.

If you want to comment on this rule: The comment period is short — written comments are due by July 9, 2026. Submit via regulations.gov (docket DOS-2026-0727) or email the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

H-1B, F-1, and other visa holders: This pilot is exclusively for B1/B2 applicants. No changes affect your visa categories at this time.