expedited B-1/B-2 visa appointment

State Department Launches Pilot Program Offering Expedited B-1/B-2 Visa Appointments for $750

Maggio Kattar

The U.S. Department of State has announced a new pilot program effective from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which would allow certain applicants for B-1/B-2 visitor visas to pay an additional $750 fee to obtain a faster visa interview appointment at participating U.S. consular posts. 

For the past several years, B-1/B-2 visa applicants have faced lengthy wait times to secure appointments at most U.S. consulates around the world.  Expedited appointment slots have been available but the eligibility criteria were extremely difficult to meet.  The initiative, published in a June 9, 2026 Federal Register notice, represents a notable departure from the traditional expedited appointment process. Historically, applicants seeking faster interview appointments were required to demonstrate urgent circumstances—such as significant business needs, medical emergencies, humanitarian concerns, or other compelling reasons—and approval was entirely discretionary.

Under the new pilot program, expedited scheduling appears to be available through payment of the additional fee rather than a showing of urgent need.

Under the new pilot program, expedited scheduling appears to be available through payment of the additional fee rather than a showing of urgent need.

Why A Fee-Based Expedited B-1/B-2 Visa Appointment Matters

Many foreign nationals use B-1 visas to travel to the United States for legitimate business activities, including:

  • Attending business meetings;
  • Participating in training programs;
  • Negotiating contracts;
  • Consulting with U.S. business associates; and
  • Attending conferences and industry events.

Although B-1 visitors may engage in a variety of business-related activities, they generally may not perform productive work for a U.S. employer while in the United States.

For employers that depend on international business travel, delays in obtaining visa appointments can disrupt project planning, training schedules, client meetings, and other time-sensitive business activities.

A Response to Growing Consular Delays

Over the past year, our firm has observed a significant increase in visa appointment wait times at many U.S. consular posts. At the same time, expedited B-1/B-2 visa appointment requests that previously may have resulted in meaningful reductions in wait times have increasingly failed to provide substantial scheduling relief.

These delays appear to be driven by a combination of enhanced security vetting requirements and ongoing staffing challenges at many consular posts following workforce reductions over the past year.

Against that backdrop, the State Department’s pilot program appears designed to provide applicants with a predictable mechanism for obtaining earlier interview appointments while also generating additional revenue.

A Shift From Need-Based to Fee-Based Expedited Processing

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the pilot program is that it appears to create a separate pathway to expedited B-1/B-2 visa appointments that does not require applicants to demonstrate extraordinary circumstances.

Under the traditional system:

  • Applicants requested an expedited appointment;
  • Applicants were required to demonstrate qualifying urgent circumstances;
  • Approval was discretionary; and
  • No additional fee was charged.

Under the pilot program:

  • Applicants may pay a $750 expedited appointment fee;
  • No showing of urgency appears to be required;
  • Participating posts are expected to offer interview appointments within a significantly shorter timeframe, subject to availability; and
  • Visa eligibility requirements and adjudication standards remain unchanged.

The program effectively creates a premium scheduling option for applicants who are willing to pay for faster access to visa interview appointments.

What Employers Should Expect

Companies with executives, managers, technical personnel, and other employees who frequently travel to the United States for meetings, training, and other permissible B-1 activities may find the program useful when business travel is time-sensitive and standard appointment wait times are lengthy.

However, important questions remain regarding which consular posts will participate, how many expedited appointment slots will be available, and whether demand for the service will affect wait times for applicants using the standard appointment process.

Because the initiative is being launched as a pilot program, the Department of State has not yet announced which embassies and consulates will participate or when the expedited appointment option will become available at specific locations. We will continue monitoring developments and provide updates as additional implementation details are released.