The United States Department of State has announced a new US Visa Interview Fast-Track Service, giving B1/B2 visa applicants the opportunity to secure interview appointments within 10 business days by paying an additional $750 fee.
The temporary pilot programme, scheduled to run from July 1 to December 31, 2026, is expected to provide a faster pathway for travellers facing lengthy waiting periods for visa interviews.
According to a notice published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2026, the service will be available only at selected US embassies and consulates worldwide.
The State Department said the initiative is designed as an optional premium service for applicants who need quicker access to interview appointments amid increasing demand for nonimmigrant visas.
“This temporary final rule is designed to collect information from select countries about the demand for a fee-based process to expedite a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment,” the department stated.
Officials explained that the programme will also help improve the efficiency of visa appointment scheduling systems while providing applicants with greater flexibility.
Under the arrangement, applicants must first complete the standard visa application process and schedule a regular interview appointment.
Those seeking an earlier date can then choose the expedited option and pay the additional fee to access available appointments within the next 10 business days.
“If the applicant then wishes to schedule an earlier (expedited) appointment, he or she will so indicate, at which point, he or she will see the available expedited appointments within the next ten business days,” the notice explained.
The US government stressed that paying for the expedited service does not guarantee visa approval. All applicants will still be required to undergo the standard screening procedures, including security checks and consular interviews.
“An expedited visa appointment in no way guarantees visa issuance,” the State Department emphasised.
Applicants who choose the premium service will pay the new $750 expedite charge in addition to the existing $185 nonimmigrant visa application fee, bringing the total cost to $935.
The introduction of the US Visa Interview Fast-Track Service comes as several US diplomatic missions continue to face significant appointment backlogs.
In Nigeria, for example, the average waiting time for a B1/B2 visitor visa interview in Abuja is reported to be approximately 11.5 months.
The State Department noted that some visa applicants across various countries experience waiting periods exceeding one year, making it difficult for individuals with urgent travel needs to secure appointments in time.
“At certain posts wait times exceed 12 months, making it difficult for some applicants to apply for visas for urgent or last-minute travel,” the rule stated.
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US officials also linked the pilot programme to anticipated increases in international travel demand ahead of major global events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The government described the initiative as a cost-recovery pilot project intended to measure demand for premium visa scheduling services.
“This service will be offered as an optional premium addition to the standard NIV application fee,” the department said.
Authorities further clarified that the programme will be implemented on a limited basis, with only selected overseas posts participating during the pilot period.
“This service will be offered at limited overseas posts… for the duration of the temporary final rule,” the notice added.
As global travel demand continues to rise, the pilot programme could provide valuable insight into whether fee-based expedited appointments may become a permanent feature of the US visa application process in the future.
