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US State Department Offers $750 Premium Service for Expedited Business and Tourism Visa Interviews
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The U.S. State Department will offer a new "premium" service that lets foreign visitors skip the line for a visa interview — but it will cost them $750 on top of existing fees, according to AP. The pilot program is set to launch July 1, 2026, at select overseas embassies and consulates, and runs through December 31.
For travelers who pay, the government promises an interview appointment within 10 business days. In cities like Mexico City, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro, standard wait times have stretched beyond 300 days, according to AP.
Total Cost for One Visa Can Now Hit $1,185
The $750 premium fee does not replace the standard $185 visa application fee. It adds to it. And since Congress passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" on July 4, 2025, there is also a mandatory $250 "Visa Integrity Fee" tacked on to every nonimmigrant visa issued, according to Fragomen. That brings the total to roughly $1,185 for a single traveler seeking an expedited B-1 business or B-2 tourist visa.
The $250 Visa Integrity Fee is theoretically refundable — but only if the traveler leaves the U.S. on time. Students and temporary workers are not eligible for the $750 expedited interview, though they still pay the $250 integrity fee, according to Fragomen.
Strict Vetting Rules Created the Backlog the Fee Tries to Fix
The backlogs did not happen by accident. In September 2025, the State Department ended the "Interview Waiver Program," which had allowed many low-risk applicants to skip in-person interviews. That change sent wait times soaring, according to EL PAÍS. At the same time, new "extreme vetting" rules require applicants to submit years of social media history and personal data, slowing down each interview.
The government's solution is to let wealthier travelers pay to move faster. The State Department says the $750 fee covers the "full cost" of providing the expedited service without pulling staff away from the standard line. Critics are not convinced. The American Immigration Lawyers Association has questioned whether a 10-day guarantee is even realistic given current staffing shortages, according to Envoy Global.
Immigration Lawyers Warn of a Two-Tiered System
Immigration attorneys have pushed back hard. Several have called the policy a "wealth-based barrier" to entry, arguing it turns access to the United States into a luxury product. One attorney described it as a "two-tiered system" where money determines how fast the government processes your paperwork, according to Skift.
The State Department is careful to note the $750 fee "does not guarantee visa issuance." Paying more speeds up the interview — not the security check. Critics call that a "tax on the impatient" that does nothing to fix the underlying problem, according to Skift.
World Cup Timing Puts Pressure on Consular System
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is a major reason for the urgency. Millions of fans from countries outside the Visa Waiver Program — including Brazil, India, and Colombia — need B-2 tourist visas to attend. With wait times already over 300 days in many consulates, the administration needed a fast fix, according to AP.
The State Department will evaluate the program after December 31 to decide if it becomes permanent. For now, the pilot is a "proof-of-concept" test, according to Envoy Global. Whether it eases the backlog or simply advantages those who can afford to pay remains to be seen.
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