Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates-Visa and Citizenship Services Fee Changes
Key claim: The State Department is temporarily creating a $750 optional fee for B1/B2 visa applicants to secure an expedited interview appointment within ten business days at selected posts.
Abstract
(Rule · State Department) This temporary final rule (TFR) temporarily amends the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (Schedule) to create a $750 fee for an expedited B1/B2, business and tourism, nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview appointment. This new fee will allow B1/B2 visa applicants who pay the fee to secure an interview appointment at selected posts within ten business days. This service will be an optional premium addition to the standard NIV application fee and will be offered only to applicants at limited posts as published on travel.state.gov and in limited quantities.
Why this matters
Consular interview wait times for B1/B2 visitor visas have run months to over a year at many posts, and a paid expedite channel materially changes access for applicants who can afford it — tourists, business travelers, and families visiting relatives in the U.S. As an optional surcharge rather than a policy shift, it does not alter eligibility or adjudication standards, but it introduces a tiered service model into consular processing that may affect equity of access and post-level appointment supply for non-paying applicants.