United States Government has announced plans to introduce a premium expedited service for foreign nationals applying for business and tourist visas, allowing eligible applicants to secure interview appointments within 10 days for an additional fee.
The U.S. Department of State said the optional service would cost 750 dollars in addition to the standard 185-dollar visa application fee, bringing the total cost to 935 dollars for applicants who choose the fast-track option.
According to the department, the pilot programme will run from July 1 to Dec. 31 and will initially be available at selected U.S. embassies and consulates.
The initiative is aimed at addressing lengthy visa interview waiting periods experienced in many parts of the world, where appointment backlogs often extend for several months and, in some cases, more than a year.
Under the arrangement, eligible applicants for B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas who obtain an expedited interview slot will be required to complete payment within a narrow five to 10-minute window.
The State Department warned that failure to make payment within the stipulated period would result in the loss of the reserved appointment slot.
“If the non-refundable fee is not settled within this timeframe, he or she will lose the hold, and the expedited appointment will be reopened to other applicants,” the department stated.
Officials said the premium service was designed solely to accelerate interview scheduling and would not influence the outcome of visa applications.
The department stressed that payment of the expedited fee does not guarantee visa approval, noting that all applicants would still be subject to existing eligibility requirements and screening procedures.
The U.S. Government estimates that approximately 25,705 travellers will utilise the premium service annually, generating about 19.3 million dollars in revenue.
The State Department said details of participating embassies and consulates would be announced ahead of the programme’s implementation.
The introduction of the premium option comes amid increasing global demand for U.S. visas and persistent complaints from travellers and businesses over lengthy appointment waiting times.
Observers say the programme could benefit travellers requiring urgent business or personal trips, although concerns have been raised over the affordability of the additional fee for many applicants.
The pilot scheme will be reviewed at the end of the six-month period to determine its effectiveness and the possibility of broader implementation.
