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The State Department will soon launch a pilot program allowing business and tourist visa applicants to bypass lengthy backlogs and secure an interview appointment within 10 days for an additional $750 fee, according to internal documents and a department official quoted in an Associated Press report.
The service is expected to be officially announced this week. The trial program is slated to run from July 1 through Dec. 31 at select U.S. embassies and consulates, though the exact participating locations have not yet been shared.
Currently, many people applying for U.S. visas have to wait a long time for interview appointments, a problem that has continued since the COVID-19 pandemic. The new program is meant to help people who need to travel sooner and are willing to pay more for quicker appointments.
The $750 fee would be optional and separate from the regular non-refundable visa application fee. Officials stressed that paying this fee does not guarantee a visa. Applicants would still go through the usual review and interview process.
As of now, the State Department has not made an official announcement.
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