USA Launches Paid Expedited Interview for Tourist Visas: What Changes from July 1

From July 1, 2026, the US Department of State launches a temporary paid option for some B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants: for an additional $750, it will be possible to try and obtain an interview date within 10 business days at selected embassies and consulates. For tourists, this is a significant change, but not a "paid visa guarantee": the new fee accelerates only the appointment scheduling, not the consular officer's decision or subsequent administrative processing.

The topic became particularly relevant at the end of June, as the program launch is scheduled for July 1, and the demand for travel to the USA remains high amid major events, business conferences, family trips, and the sports calendar. The official rule was published in the Federal Register, and travel publications have separately noted the practical side of the innovation: for many travelers, the most difficult stage is not the DS-160 form itself, but waiting for an available interview date.

The new service applies only to non-immigrant B-1/B-2 visas, meaning trips for short-term business, tourism, visiting relatives, medical treatment, or a combination of these purposes. It does not replace the standard application process, does not cancel the requirement to prove the purpose of the trip and ties to the country of residence, does not automatically apply to all consulates, and does not grant the right to buy a ticket without having received the visa.

What Exactly Changes from July 1

According to the temporary final rule of the Department of State, from July 1 to December 31, 2026, certain consular posts may offer B-1/B-2 applicants an additional paid path to a faster interview. The amount of the new fee is 750 US dollars. It is added to the standard consular fee for a non-immigrant visa, which for category B currently stands at 185 dollars. Thus, for an applicant using premium scheduling, the total amount of mandatory consular payments may reach 935 dollars, without considering other possible expenses for travel to the consulate, translations, photos, passport delivery, or service fees in a specific country.

The key promise of the program is formulated very narrowly: an applicant who pays the additional fee at an available consulate will be able to obtain an interview within 10 business days, if such premium slots are available. This does not mean that the visa will be ready in 10 days. After the interview, the consular officer still evaluates the documents, the purpose of the trip, financial capacity, previous travel history, possible risks of immigrant intent, and other standard criteria. If the case falls under additional administrative processing, the new paid appointment will not speed it up.

Another important detail: the list of embassies and consulates participating in the pilot is to be published through official Travel.State.Gov channels. As of the preparation of this material, the rule explicitly mentions "selected posts" and a limited number of slots. Therefore, travelers should not view July 1 as a date from which the option will simultaneously appear in all countries and for all applicants.

Who Can Benefit from This

The new option will have the greatest practical value for those whose trip to the USA arose with a short planning horizon, but does not fall under free emergency grounds. These could be business meetings, conferences, exhibitions, family events, medical consultations without urgent humanitarian status, or tourist trips tied to dates that are difficult to move.

At the same time, it does not solve the problem for all tourists. First, 750 dollars is a significant amount, especially for a family trip where the payment may be required for each applicant individually. Second, the number of slots will be limited. Third, if the main risk in the case is not the interview date, but weak documents, an unclear purpose of the trip, or previous refusals, a faster appointment will not eliminate these factors.

For the average tourist, this means a simple rule: a paid slot should only be considered when the document package is already ready, the trip is truly urgent, and the applicant understands that the payment buys time in the calendar, not a more lenient attitude toward the application. The Department of State separately emphasizes that standard visa eligibility criteria remain in effect.

How the Paid Appointment Works

The process does not begin with the payment of 750 dollars. First, the applicant must follow the usual path: determine the correct visa category, fill out the DS-160 form, pay the basic visa fee, create or use a profile in the appointment system, and schedule a standard interview date. Only after this, if the specific consulate is participating in the pilot and has available premium slots, the system may show the option to choose a faster slot.

The Federal Register describes a mechanism with a short time window for payment: after selecting a premium date, the slot is held for a few minutes while the applicant completes the payment. If the payment does not go through or the time expires, the slot returns to the pool of available slots. If the applicant chooses a premium appointment but does not appear for the interview or cancels it, the additional fee may be lost.

That is why it is worth checking bank limits, the availability of international payments, the stability of the internet connection, and the readiness of all data in the profile in advance. For families and groups, it is important not to automatically assume that all participants will be able to obtain premium slots for the same day: the program rules speak of limited availability, not guaranteed group acceleration.

What the New Fee Does Not Guarantee

The most common mistake, already visible in discussions of this topic, is calling the paid option a "fast pass" for the visa. In reality, it is a fast appointment for the interview, not a fast visa. The consular officer may approve the application, refuse it, request additional documents, or send the case for administrative processing. All these scenarios remain possible regardless of whether the slot was standard or premium.

The new fee also does not cancel the Travel.State.Gov advice not to buy non-refundable tickets and not make final plans until the visa is received. For travel to the USA, this is especially important, as the itinerary often includes expensive transatlantic or long-haul flights, domestic connections, accommodation in large cities, and tickets to events. If the visa is not issued in time, even a fast interview will not compensate for the losses from non-refundable bookings.

It should also not be confused with the Visa Waiver Program. Citizens of countries that can travel to the USA without a visa via ESTA usually do not apply for B-1/B-2 for short tourist or business trips, if they meet all the conditions of the visa-free program. But some travelers from VWP countries may still need a visa, for example, due to previous trips to certain states, an ESTA refusal, or other individual circumstances.

Why the USA is Testing This Model Now

The official explanation from the Department of State is related to long queues at certain consulates, the resources spent on manually reviewing emergency requests, and the need to test demand for a paid service. The document mentions major international events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The USA expects significant flows of visitors, and visa queues in certain countries can create a bottleneck for tourism, business, and the event industry.

At the same time, the program does not magically increase overall consular capacity. Some slots will be allocated for premium appointments, and the rest of the applicants will continue to use the regular queue. The Department of State states that premium slots must be limited to a fraction of the total interview capacity to avoid worsening the situation for those who do not pay the additional fee. In practice, the effect will depend on which consulates join the pilot, how many slots they open, and how actively applicants use the option.

What This Means for Tourists Planning a Trip to the USA

For travelers, the main conclusion is this: if the trip to the USA depends on B-1/B-2, planning should still begin by checking the queue at your consulate. On the Global Visa Wait Times page, the Department of State explains the difference between the "next available date" and the average waiting time for the previous month. These indicators can change, because consulates regularly add new slots, and applicants sometimes reschedule their appointment to an earlier date.

If the travel date is flexible, it is cheaper and safer to stay in the standard queue and periodically check for the appearance of earlier slots. If the trip is tied to a specific event, premium scheduling may become a useful tool, but the budget should be calculated honestly: besides the 935 dollars in consular payments for the premium path, the tourist will need funds for flights, accommodation, insurance, city transport, and possible domestic flights.

After receiving the visa, it is worth separately checking the arrival logistics. For many tourist routes, the key gateways remain New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and other large hubs. On the site, you can view information in advance about New York JFK Airport, Los Angeles LAX Airport, Miami Airport, or Chicago O'Hare Airport, to avoid delaying questions of connections, transfers, and time for passport control until the last day.

Practical Checklist Before Paying 750 Dollars

• Check if your consulate is officially participating in the pilot, and do not rely on rumors or intermediary advertisements.
• Make sure you truly need a B-1/B-2 visa, not ESTA or another category.
• First, fill out the DS-160, pay the basic fee, and schedule a regular interview.
• Evaluate whether the time saving justifies the additional 750 dollars, especially for a family trip.
• Do not buy non-refundable air tickets until you receive your passport with the visa.
• Remember that premium scheduling does not affect the officer's decision and does not cancel the possibility of administrative processing.
• Avoid websites that promise guaranteed approval or sell "official" access to slots outside the consulate system.

Conclusion

The paid expedited interview for B-1/B-2 can be a useful but expensive tool for some travelers who need to get to the USA in a tight timeframe. The greatest benefit will be where queues are truly long, and the trip has a specific date. However, the new option does not change the essence of the American visa procedure: the applicant must prove the right to a visitor visa, and the final decision remains with the consular officer.

For the tourism market, this is a signal that the USA is trying to partially relieve one of the most painful stages of the visa process before major international events. For tourists themselves, this is more of an additional option than a universal solution. The smartest strategy remains unchanged: check official sources, apply in advance, calculate the full cost of the trip, and do not confuse faster scheduling with a guarantee of entry.