A new pilot program will allow tourists and business travelers to “move to the front of the queue” for visa interviews if they can afford it.
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For some travelers, the time it takes to obtain a visa to visit the United States may be quickly reduced, but the cost will be higher.
Starting July 1, travelers applying for B1 and B2 nonimmigrant visas for business and tourism purposes will be able to pay an additional fee to get ahead of others in line for a visa interview.
The State Department said it is part of a “proof-of-concept” pilot program aimed at assessing demand for the rapid service, which will be available through the end of the year.
According to the interim final rule, published in the Federal Register on June 9, “Applicants for designated positions will have the opportunity to move to the front of the line for appointment by paying a $750 fee without providing written justification or seeking personal intervention through the Priority Appointment Request or Referral process.”
Those who pay an additional fee can secure a visa interview appointment within 10 business days without having to wait for the next availability, which can vary by week and location. For example, the next available appointment for a B1/B2 visa interview is in 16 months in Abu Dhabi and within half a month in Istanbul.
This $750 fee is on top of the standard nonimmigrant visa application processing fee of $185 for a total cost of approximately $935.
Michael Catgliotti, a New York-based immigration attorney, told USA TODAY that this is a large amount of money for many countries. “I think it’s expensive in this country, but it’s prohibitive in many countries where people apply for visas,” he says.
The State Department says the “premium” addition is optional, in limited quantities, and available only at designated posts on its website. It further adds, “This Service does not facilitate any processing steps, including the time required for administrative processing.”
“There is no indication that they will approve these applications,” Catgliotti said, adding that it is interesting that this option is only available for B1, B2 visas. “There are many other categories where it makes sense to do it faster and speed things up, such as work visas for people who come here as international academics, people who have extraordinary ‘extraordinary ability’ in the industry, people who go into professional jobs, etc. in different fields.”
After the pilot period ends on Dec. 31, the State Department will evaluate whether it is worth continuing or adjusting the service.
This article has been updated to update the headline.
