WASHINGTON — The United States State Department will launch a paid expedited visa interview service for foreign nationals seeking business or tourist visas, charging applicants an additional $750 on top of the standard $185 application fee, according to Antigua News Room.
A notice set to be published in the Federal Register this week will formally unveil the pilot program, which allows applicants to pay the premium fee in exchange for scheduling an interview within 10 days at select U.S. embassies and consulates.
The pilot program is scheduled to run from July 1 to December 31, as reported by Antigua News Room, citing internal documents obtained by The Associated Press and a State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the program had not yet been officially announced.
The initiative appears to be a response to growing delays in visa processing — conditions that critics attribute in part to the Trump administration's broader effort to make entry into the United States more difficult. The administration has implemented a series of restrictive measures, including requiring bonds of up to $15,000 for visa processing in some countries, predominantly in Africa, and mandating that applicants submit years of personal history, including social media account information, for vetting.
Those requirements have caused significant backlogs at embassies and consulates worldwide, drawing widespread complaints from applicants and governments alike.
For citizens of countries not covered by the Visa Waiver Program, wait times for standard visa interviews can stretch to several months or longer. However, paying the premium fee for what the department describes as an "optional premium add-on service" does not guarantee that a visa will ultimately be issued.
The specific embassies and consulates where the expedited service will be available are expected to be announced before the program takes effect on July 1. Officials indicated the pilot could be extended beyond December 31 depending on demand.
