State Department Introduces $750 Premium B1/B2 Visa Interview Expedite: What B Visa Applicants Need to Know

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has published a temporary final rule on June 9, 2026 introducing an optional $750 premium fee to expedite interview scheduling for B-1/B-2 (business and tourism) visa applicants.

Key Timeline & Details

• Effective Dates: This is a 6-month pilot program scheduled to last from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
• The Benefit: Eligible applicants can secure a consular interview appointment within 10 business days, subject to visa appointment and DOS resources available at the location selected.
• Cost: $750 USD, which is a premium supplement paid in addition to the standard $185 Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) application fee.

How It Works

• Applicants must complete their Form DS-160, pay the standard $185 fee, and first schedule a regular (non-expedited) interview date.
• If the consular post is participating and has capacity, the applicant will then see an online option to upgrade to an expedited slot within 10 business days by paying the $750 fee.

Critical Limitations & Guardrails

• No Guarantee of Approval: Paying the $750 premium fee only accelerates the appointment date. It does not influence the consular officer’s decision, guarantee visa issuance, or bypass any standard eligibility/screening requirements.
• Adjudication Not Fast-Tracked: The fee does not speed up administrative processing. Any security or eligibility clearances will still take the standard amount of time.
• Limited Availability: This service is not available globally. The State Department will list participating embassies and consulates on its travel.state.gov website, and slots will be strictly capped to prevent impacting regular appointment wait times.
• Non-Refundable / Rigid: Failing to attend the expedited appointment or complete payment will result in the forfeiture of both the slot and the fee.

Rationale & Context

This pilot initiative aims to alleviate extreme visa interview backlogs—which currently exceed 12 months at several global consulates—and to manage massive impending travel demand for upcoming major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The existing no-fee expedited interview options (for urgent humanitarian, emergency, or U.S. government-referred travel) will remain active and unchanged at all consular posts.

At the end of 2026, the State Department will evaluate pilot data to decide whether to permanently adopt, adjust, or abandon this paid premium service.

Houman Afshar