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The $750 Expedited U.S. Visa Interview Fee, Explained
For the first time, you can pay for a faster U.S. visa interview. A temporary rule in force from 1 July to 31 December 2026 lets B-1/B-2 applicants pay $750 for an expedited appointment. This page is written from the rule itself — 91 FR 34768 — because most of what is written about it elsewhere confuses it with the long-standing free emergency-appointment process.
What the rule actually creates
The Department of State amended its Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (22 CFR 22.1) to add one new service:
a $750 fee for an expedited B1/B2, business and tourism, nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview appointment.
The service is defined precisely: an appointment within ten business days after paying the fee, subject to availability of expedited appointments at the location selected.
Who it is for, and who it is not for
| | | | --- | --- | | Visa classes | B-1, B-2, and B-1/B-2 only | | Where | "Limited overseas posts", listed on travel.state.gov — not every embassy | | When | 1 July 2026 through 31 December 2026, as a pilot | | Not covered | F, M, J, H, L, O, P, E, K and every other class |
Students, workers and exchange visitors cannot use it. If you are in one of those classes and need a faster appointment, the free emergency-appointment request through your post's own process remains the only route.
The $750 is on top of everything else
The expedite fee is a separate service charge. It does not replace the normal visa application fee. A B-1/B-2 applicant using it pays:
- $185 — the standard MRV application fee, non-refundable as always
- $750 — the expedite fee
Total: $935 in federal fees before any other cost. If a visa bond is required at your interview, that is additional again.
Why the fee is $750
The rule explains the figure directly: the Department costed the service using its standard activity-based methodology and estimates the cost of providing an expedited appointment at $750 per applicant. It is a cost-recovery fee, not a premium. The rule is explicit that the pilot exists to test the service and that the fee will be revisited when the pilot ends.
Is it worth it?
It depends entirely on the wait at your post. Two honest observations from the rule's structure:
- "Within ten business days" is a ceiling, not a promise of tomorrow. At a post with a three-week routine wait, $750 buys roughly a week. At a post with a four-month wait, it may buy months.
- "Subject to availability" means expedited slots are a limited pool. Paying does not guarantee a slot exists.
Check the Department's published wait times for your post before paying. If the routine wait is already short, the fee buys little.
The free emergency appointment still exists
This fee does not abolish the existing process for genuine emergencies — a medical crisis, a funeral, urgent unplanned business. Those requests go through your post's own procedure and are decided on the facts. The $750 fee is a paid fast lane for ordinary B-1/B-2 travel that does not meet that bar.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay $750 to expedite a student or work visa interview?
No. The fee applies to B-1/B-2 appointments only.
Is the $750 refundable if no expedited slot is available?
The rule text does not address refunds. Availability at the location you select is a stated condition of the service, so check availability before paying rather than relying on a refund afterwards.
Does paying $750 guarantee an appointment within ten days?
No. The service is an appointment within ten business days subject to availability of expedited appointments at the location selected. Both conditions apply.
Is this the same as an emergency appointment?
No. Emergency appointments are free and require a qualifying reason. The $750 service requires no reason but is limited to B-1/B-2 and to participating posts.
Which embassies offer it?
A limited set of posts, listed on travel.state.gov. The rule does not enumerate them, and the list can change during the pilot.
Does the fee end on 31 December 2026?
The temporary rule is in force through 31 December 2026. The Department states it will revisit the fee once the pilot is complete. It may be extended, changed, or dropped.
Sources
- 91 FR 34768 — Schedule of Fees for Consular Services: Visa and Citizenship Services Fee Changes (temporary final rule, effective 1 July 2026)
- 22 CFR 22.1 — Schedule of Fees for Consular Services