# State Dept Adds $750 Fast-Track Option for B1/B2 Visa Interviews Starting July 1 > Long waits for a US tourist or business visa interview? The State Department is launching a paid fast-lane: pay $750 and get your B1/B2 interview within 10 business days. The catch — it's a limited pilot, available only at select embassies, and it runs through December 31, 2026. Canonical URL: https://thevisapulse.com/updates/state-dept-b1b2-expedited-visa-appointment-fee-2026 ## At a glance - **Policy status:** Status unverified - **Last verified:** Not recorded - **Human review:** No human review recorded - **Published:** 2026-06-09 - **Effective:** 2026-07-01 - **Impact:** medium - **Document type:** Final Rule - **Source agency:** Department of State - **Document number:** 2026-11513 - **Visa types:** B-1, B-2, B1/B2 Publication dates and impact ratings do not establish whether a policy is in force. Verify current status against the linked government evidence. See /about for our editorial process. ## Who is affected - B1/B2 tourist and business visa applicants - Applicants at overseas embassies and consulates with long wait times - International travelers planning visits to the US for events, tourism, or business ## Key changes - A new optional $750 expedited appointment fee allows B1/B2 applicants to secure an interview within 10 business days - The service is a 6-month pilot running July 1 through December 31, 2026, available only at select overseas posts - Applicants must still pay the standard $185 MRV fee in addition to the $750 expedite fee - Paying the fee guarantees a faster interview slot only — it does not guarantee visa approval or skip administrative processing - Expedited slots are capped to avoid significantly impacting wait times for non-paying applicants ## What you should do B1/B2 applicants with urgent travel needs should check travel.state.gov after July 1, 2026 to see if their target embassy is participating. Those wishing to comment on the rule must submit feedback by July 9, 2026 via regulations.gov (docket DOS-2026-0727). The State Department is launching a paid fast-track system for B1/B2 (tourist and business) visa applicants. Starting July 1, 2026, applicants at select overseas posts can pay a $750 fee on top of the standard $185 visa application fee to secure an interview appointment within 10 business days — no justification required. ## At a Glance - **What:** New optional $750 fee to skip the line and get a B1/B2 visa interview within 10 business days - **Who:** B1/B2 (tourist/business) nonimmigrant visa applicants at select overseas embassies and consulates - **When:** Effective July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 (6-month pilot program) - **Impact:** Applicants at posts with wait times exceeding 12 months can now pay to move to the front of the interview queue ## What's Actually Changing Right now, the only ways to get a faster visa interview are through humanitarian requests, government referrals, or a US official personally vouching for you — all resource-intensive, case-by-case processes with strict criteria. This pilot removes that friction for B1/B2 applicants willing to pay. Here's how it works: 1. Complete your DS-160 application and pay the standard $185 MRV fee 2. Schedule a regular (non-expedited) appointment as usual 3. If expedited slots are available at your post, you'll see appointments within the next 10 business days 4. Select one — you'll have a 5–10 minute window to pay the $750 fee before the slot is released 5. Miss the payment window and you lose the slot; cancel or no-show and you forfeit the $750 **Important:** Paying $750 gets you a faster interview — nothing more. It does not guarantee visa approval, skip administrative processing (background checks, etc.), or speed up any other step. All standard eligibility requirements still apply. ## Why Now? The State Department cites two drivers: the 2026 FIFA World Cup and preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While the median global wait time for a visa interview is about 30 days, some posts have wait times exceeding 12 months. The agency is treating this as a proof-of-concept pilot, projecting roughly 25,000 expedited appointments over six months. The $750 fee reflects the department's full cost-recovery model — the same methodology used for all consular fees. The standard $185 MRV fee is not changing. ## What This Doesn't Do - It's **not available everywhere** — only at selected embassies listed on travel.state.gov - It's **not unlimited** — slots are capped as a percentage of each post's interview capacity - It **won't noticeably slow down regular applicants** — the department says capped availability protects standard wait times - Humanitarian and urgent cases will **still be expedited for free** through existing processes ## What You Should Do **If you're a B1/B2 applicant facing long wait times:** Check travel.state.gov after July 1 to see if your target embassy is participating. If you have time-sensitive travel coming up, this paid option may be worth exploring — but budget $935 total ($185 MRV + $750 expedite fee) and understand that approval is never guaranteed. **If you want to comment on this rule:** The comment period is short — written comments are due by **July 9, 2026**. Submit via regulations.gov (docket DOS-2026-0727) or email the Bureau of Consular Affairs. **H-1B, F-1, and other visa holders:** This pilot is exclusively for B1/B2 applicants. No changes affect your visa categories at this time. ## Sources - Government source · federalregister.gov: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/09/2026-11513/schedule-of-fees-for-consular-services-department-of-state-and-overseas-embassies-and - Source PDF: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-09/pdf/2026-11513.pdf --- _The Visa Pulse — Immigration Policy, Explained. 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