USA Introducing Paid Expedited Interview for B1/B2 Visas: What the $750 Fee Means for Tourists

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
28.07.2026 08:39

USA Introducing Paid Expedited Interview for B1/B2 Visas: What the $750 Fee Means for Tourists

Starting July 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of State is launching a temporary paid expedited interview program for B1/B2 visa applicants. For an additional $750, tourists and business travelers can obtain an interview at selected consulates within ten business days, but this service does not guarantee visa issuance or faster processing after the interview.

The new rule was published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2026, and will operate as a pilot mechanism from July 1 to December 31, 2026. It creates a separate consular fee for the expedited appointment of nonimmigrant B1/B2 visas, which are for short business trips, tourism, visiting relatives, attending events, or combined business-tourism itineraries. The standard visa application fee remains separate, so for the applicant, this will not be a replacement for the current payment, but an expensive additional service.

For the tourism market, this is important news not only because of the amount. The USA is entering a period of increased demand for international travel: in 2026, the country is hosting FIFA World Cup matches, and a wave of travel to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles is already being prepared. Against this backdrop, long queues for visa interviews have long been one of the main obstacles for guests from countries not included in the Visa Waiver Program. The new paid option is intended to test whether applicants are willing to pay a significant amount for faster access to an interview when the regular calendar is booked for months.

What Exactly Changes from July 1

The temporary rule adds a new item to the consular fee schedule: the Nonimmigrant Visa Appointment Expedite Fee of $750 per person. The Department of State explains that an applicant who chooses this service and follows the relevant instructions will be able to obtain an interview at a selected facility within ten business days after payment, provided that expedited slots are available at that consulate.

The key phrasing here is "selected facilities" and "subject to availability." The program will not be automatically available at every U.S. embassy or consulate. The list of locations is expected to be published on travel.state.gov, and the number of such interviews will be limited. This means that the new paid channel may be useful for some travelers, but it will not become a universal way to bypass all queues.

It is also important that the fee applies only to the appointment of the interview. It does not change the requirements for the applicant, does not cancel the need to fill out the DS-160, does not replace the main visa fee, and does not reduce the scope of checks. The consular officer, as before, will evaluate the purpose of the trip, the applicant's financial and social ties, previous travel history, compliance with the visa type, and other circumstances of the case.

Who This May Be Useful For

The most obvious audience for the new option is travelers with a fixed travel date, for whom the regular interview queue does not fit into the calendar. These could be people planning to attend 2026 World Cup matches, large conferences, exhibitions, sporting events, family celebrations, or already paid tours. For them, ten business days to an interview can have practical value if the alternative is waiting several months and missing the trip.

At the same time, such a service is unlikely to be rational for everyone. If the trip is not tied to a specific date and a regular interview can be obtained within an acceptable timeframe, an additional $750 may not be justified. For families applying together, the amount increases quickly, as the rule establishes the fee "per person." A family of three could theoretically pay $2,250 just for expedited appointments, not counting standard visa fees, tickets, accommodation, and insurance.

A separate category is applicants who already have a risky or complex visa history. For them, an expedited interview may only bring the date of the conversation with the consular officer closer, but it will not make the case stronger. If documents are incomplete, the purpose of the trip is unclear, or there are previous refusals without a change in circumstances, a paid slot does not turn into an advantage in terms of the application's substance.

What the $750 Fee Does Not Guarantee

The most important warning for tourists: paying for an expedited interview does not mean a guaranteed visa. The B1/B2 visa remains a permit issued after individual review. Even if the applicant gets to the interview faster, the result may be positive, negative, or require additional administrative processing.

Similarly, the new option does not guarantee the immediate receipt of the passport after the interview. In many standard cases, the decision is made quickly, but the consular system always leaves room for additional checks. Therefore, buying non-refundable air tickets or paying for expensive hotels before receiving the passport with the visa remains a risky strategy.

This program should not be confused with expedited border crossing. A visa or ESTA allows arrival at the point of entry, but the final decision on admission is made by a CBP officer at the airport or land border. Even for holders of a valid visa, the usual requirements remain: correspond to the stated purpose of the trip, have a clear itinerary, not violate the permitted stay period, and honestly declare goods or currency.

Why This Is Important for Tourism to the USA

The American tourism industry has long pointed to visa delays as one of the reasons why the USA is losing a share of international demand. The U.S. Travel Association in its materials emphasizes that international visitors spend significantly more in the country than domestic tourists, and long visa queues can cost the economy millions of potential trips and tens of billions of dollars over the coming years.

In this sense, the paid interview is a compromise, but controversial tool. On one hand, it can help those who truly have an urgent trip and are willing to pay for faster access to the calendar. On the other hand, such a model creates a feeling of a two-tier system: travelers with a larger budget get a separate path, while others remain in the regular queue.

For destinations expecting guests during major events, this could provide short-term support. New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Boston, Chicago, and other major U.S. gateways depend not only on flights but also on whether foreign tourists manage to process their documents in time. If the program actually reduces waiting times in key demand countries, its effect may be felt by the hotel sector, event tourism, and local transport.

How Tourists Should Plan Their Trip to the USA in 2026

The first step is to check whether you need a B1/B2 visa or if ESTA within the Visa Waiver Program is sufficient. If a visa is specifically required, it is worth starting the process as early as possible: fill out the DS-160, check passport validity, prepare an itinerary, bookings, confirmation of the purpose of the trip, and documents explaining ties to the country of residence.

The second step is to monitor official announcements from the specific embassy or consulate. Since the paid option will be available only in a limited number of locations, one should not assume that it will automatically appear in your country. If an expedited slot is available, you need to evaluate not only the price but also the actual need: is there an urgent date, is there enough time for a standard interview, and is the applicant prepared for a possible refusal without reimbursement of travel costs.

The third step is to plan logistics after the visa as carefully as the documents. For flights to New York, it is worth checking the pages of JFK Airport and Newark Liberty in advance, as well as checking the JFK online board before departure. If the route leads to the West Coast, the pages of Los Angeles LAX Airport, hotels near LAX, and transfers from LAX will be useful. For trips to matches or layovers in Texas and Florida, it is worth separately checking Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and Miami Airport.

Practical Conclusions for Travelers

  • The pilot program operates from July 1 to December 31, 2026.
  • The additional fee is $750 per person and does not replace the standard visa fee.
  • The option applies only to B1/B2 applicants and only to selected consular posts.
  • The goal of the program is to provide access to an interview within ten business days, if slots are available.
  • Payment does not guarantee visa issuance, fast passport return, or admission at the U.S. border.
  • The service will be of greatest value for trips with a strict date, including sporting, event, and business itineraries.

For tourists, the main conclusion is simple: the new fee can be a useful tool in urgent cases, but it should not be perceived as a "fast visa." It is only faster access to the interview, and it is expensive and geographically limited. The safest strategy remains unchanged: apply in advance, check only official sources, do not buy critically important non-refundable services before receiving the visa, and plan the route to the USA with a buffer of time for documents, flights, layovers, and control after arrival.