United States | Pilot program for expedited B-1/B‑2 visa interview fee launches July 1

The State Department published a temporary final rule (TFR) on June 9, 2026, establishing a $750 optional fee for expedited B‑1/B‑2 visa interview appointments under a temporary pilot program that allows eligible applicants at select posts to obtain interview dates within 10 business days.

Key takeaways:

TFR effective July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026. Under the rule, applicants who pay a $750 fee may secure an interview appointment within 10 business days at participating consular posts, subject to availability. Per the rule, “there is no guarantee that expedited appointments will be available to all interested applicants.”

Service is optional. The service is optional and only available for B-1/B-2 applicants at selected U.S. embassies and consulates. The service will only be offered in limited quantities and will allow applicants a chance to move to the front of the appointment line without providing a written justification as to why an expedited appointment is needed.

Does not expedite processing steps. This service will not expedite any processing steps, including any time needed for administrative processing. Applicants must still follow normal procedures to submit a DS-160 visa application online, pay the required visa processing fee and schedule a regular interview appointment via the appropriate scheduling portal based on interviewing location.

Requesting an expedited appointment. Applicants who wish to schedule an earlier (expedited) appointment will indicate as such and, if available, will see expedited appointment options within the next 10 business days. Applicants must then pay the $750 expedite fee within a 5-10 minute “hold” period to secure the appointment.

No reimbursements. An applicant who selects an expedited appointment and either does not attend or cancels his /her appointment forfeits the expedited appointment fee.

Additional information: The TFR establishes a pilot program for the expedited interview fees intended to “create a fee-based mechanism for applicants to obtain an expedited interview appointment that will reduce the strain on consular resources by bypassing both the requirement for the applicant to justify his or her need for an expedited interview appointment and the requirement that consular staff review each expedited request.”

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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