USA Launches Paid Expedited Interview for Tourist Visa: What the $750 Fee Means

Starting July 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of State is launching a paid pilot option for B-1/B-2 visa applicants: for an additional $750, applicants can attempt to secure an interview date within 10 business days at selected embassies and consulates. For travelers, this is a significant change, but it should not be viewed as purchasing a visa or a guarantee of travel: the fee applies only to a faster interview appointment, and the decision on the application will be made according to standard rules.

This news is of practical importance for everyone planning a trip to the United States who is not eligible for entry under the Visa Waiver Program or does not currently hold a valid American visa. It primarily concerns tourists, participants of family events, business visitors, people with short planning horizons, and those facing long interview queues in their country. The pilot program may partially alleviate the most painful part of the process—waiting for an interview date—but it does not waive standard requirements for documents, purpose of travel, ties to the country of residence, and eligibility for a visa.

What Exactly Changes from July 1

The U.S. Federal Register published a temporary final rule creating a new fee for expedited interview appointments for non-immigrant B-1/B-2 visa applicants. The B-1 category is used for short business trips, and B-2 is for tourism, vacations, visits to relatives or friends, medical treatment, and other permitted short-term purposes. The combined B-1/B-2 visa is one of the most common for trips to the USA.

Under the new option, the applicant can pay $750 on top of the standard application review fee. For B-1/B-2, the standard MRV fee is currently $185, meaning that for those using the expedited service, the total base payment amount may reach $935 per person, excluding potential additional costs such as passport delivery, travel to the consulate, or a reciprocity fee if applicable to the applicant's citizenship.

A key detail: the paid service is intended to provide access to an interview within 10 business days after payment, but only if slots are available and only at those U.S. foreign missions that participate in the pilot. The Department of State is expected to publish a list of such embassies and consulates on travel.state.gov. Therefore, until a specific list appears, travelers should not assume that the option will be available in their country or specifically in the city where they plan to apply.

Why the USA is Introducing a Paid Option

In the explanation of the rule, the Department of State directly links the pilot to long interview queues and the need to test demand for paid faster access to interviews. Major international events are specifically mentioned: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, as well as the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. For the U.S. tourism industry, this is a sensitive topic, as visa delays can influence travel decisions as much as airfare or hotel prices.

The problem is not that every visa application is processed slowly after the interview. Often, the main barrier is access to an available interview date. In different countries, waiting times can vary from a few weeks to many months, and in some popular application destinations, it becomes a real restriction for tourists. If a person wants to attend a conference, a wedding, a family event, or buy a late tour, a year-long queue effectively makes the trip impossible.

At the same time, the U.S. authorities present the new fee not as an expansion of consular capacity for all, but as a limited experiment. The pilot will run from July 1 to December 31, 2026. After this, the Department of State will evaluate demand, costs, and the mechanism's performance, and then decide whether to continue, modify, or terminate the service.

What $750 Does Not Guarantee

The most important thing for tourists is not to confuse an expedited interview with an expedited or guaranteed visa issuance. Payment does not change the screening standards. The consular officer still evaluates whether the applicant meets the requirements of U.S. law, has a clear purpose of travel, sufficient resources, and convincing reasons to return home after the visit. A visa also does not guarantee entry into the USA: the final decision upon arrival is made by Customs and Border Protection officers.

The federal rule explicitly states that the paid fee does not grant the right to any other acceleration, other than the interview appointment and, if possible, the return of the passport with the visa after approval. If, after the interview, the case requires administrative processing, additional documents, or any other standard procedure, the fact of paying $750 should not automatically speed up these stages.

There is also a financial risk. If the applicant selects an expedited slot but does not attend the interview or cancels the appointment, the expedited fee may be lost. This is especially important for family trips, where acceleration for several people can quickly become a very expensive budget item. Tourists should first check passports, documents, the possibility of traveling to the consulate, vacation dates, employer rules, and booking flexibility before deciding whether paying for a faster slot makes sense.

Who This May Help

The new option is most useful for those who have a real urgency but do not have grounds for a free emergency appointment. For example, this could be a short business trip, an international conference, a family event with a fixed date, a medical consultation that is difficult to reschedule, or a trip that arose after a change in work or study schedule. In such cases, the difference between an interview in 10 business days and waiting several months can be decisive.

However, for a regular vacation that can be planned in advance, paid acceleration is not always rational. If a trip to the USA is planned for autumn, winter, or next year, it is better to first follow the standard route: fill out the DS-160, pay the standard fee, book the earliest available date, and regularly check for earlier slots. In many countries, people sometimes find better dates without extra payment, especially if they are flexible regarding the application city.

For travelers who already hold a valid U.S. visa, this change may be irrelevant. Similarly, it does not apply to citizens of countries that can travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program with ESTA authorization, provided their trip meets the program's conditions. Meanwhile, citizens of countries outside the visa-free program, as well as those who specifically need a B-1/B-2 visa, should closely monitor updates on U.S. embassy websites.

How This Will Affect the Tourism Market

For tourism to the USA, this is not a revolution, but a noticeable signal. The country is trying to partially reduce the visa barrier during periods of major events and high demand, without abandoning standard applicant screening. If the pilot works, it may become a new tool for markets where demand for trips to the USA consistently exceeds consular capacity. If slots are too limited or available only in a few countries, the effect on mass tourism will remain localized.

For airlines, tour operators, hotels, and event organizers, a paid faster interview may provide an additional chance to convert some late demand. For example, a person who previously could not secure an interview before the travel date could theoretically try an expedited slot. But the market should not build sales on the assumption that anyone willing can easily buy such an option. Availability will be limited, consulates will be selected centrally, and the interview result will remain uncertain.

Plan trips to high-demand events in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas, or San Francisco with particular caution. If the itinerary is already confirmed, it is useful to check not only the visa status but also arrival logistics: the airport pages New York JFK, Los Angeles LAX, Miami MIA, Chicago O'Hare, Atlanta ATL, Las Vegas LAS and San Francisco SFO will help you navigate flights and main arrival options. For trips with late arrivals or early departures, it is also worth evaluating hotels near JFK, hotels near LAX or transfers from Miami airport in advance to avoid adding unnecessary risks to an already complex visa planning process.

What to Check Before Paying for Acceleration

Before paying $750, the traveler should go through a short checklist. First, ensure that a B-1/B-2 visa is specifically required, and not another category. A tourist or business visa does not allow working in the USA, studying in a program with academic credit, or moving for permanent residence. If the purpose of the trip is more complex, consultation with official instructions or a specialist is needed.

Second, check the passport validity period, fill out the DS-160 without rushing, and prepare documents that confirm the purpose of the trip, financial capability, and intent to return. Invitations from friends or relatives may help explain the context, but according to official instructions, they are not a decisive factor for visa issuance.

Third, do not buy expensive non-refundable air tickets or hotels just because a paid interview option has appeared. Even a fast interview does not remove the risk of refusal, administrative processing, delays in passport return, or schedule changes. The safest strategy is booking with flexible conditions, a realistic time buffer after the interview, and careful reading of airline, insurance, and hotel rules.

Conclusion

Paid acceleration of the B-1/B-2 visa interview is a significant but narrow change in the American visa system. It may help some travelers who have the money, a clear deadline, and access to a consulate participating in the pilot. But for most tourists, the main advice remains unchanged: start the application process as early as possible, check official sources, do not confuse an interview appointment with a visa guarantee, and do not build a trip to the USA on unconfirmed assumptions.

If the pilot shows high demand, the USA may keep or modify the model after 2026. If it turns out that a paid queue does not solve the availability problem or creates too unequal conditions for applicants, the format may be revised. For tourists, the wisest approach is to treat the $750 as a tool for specific urgent situations, rather than as a new standard way of obtaining an American visa.