The U.S. Department of State has announced in the Federal Register that it is launching a pilot program to allow some B1/B2 (visitor for business or pleasure) applicants to pay an additional $750 fee for an expedited visa appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
Effective for the period July 1 to Dec. 31, 2026, applicants at “limited” consular posts who pay the fee will receive an appointment within ten business days. The list of eligible consular posts has not yet been published.
The number of expedited appointments will be capped to avoid significantly affecting wait times for other applicants.
The purpose of the pilot program is to “assess demand” from applicants who “seek to bypass longer wait times” for appointments. After the pilot program ends, the Department will decide whether and how to officer this service in some form on a longer term basis.
The fee would be optional and would be added on top of the standard visa application fee, which is currently $185.
Paying the fee would not increase an applicant’s chances of visa approval.
The expedited appointment fee would be nonrefundable if an applicant misses or cancels the expedited appointment.
This pilot program does not replace existing rules allowing for expedited appointments for applicants facing humanitarian emergencies or other urgent circumstances.
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