A major U.S. travel rule change starts July 1—and it comes with a $750 price tag
Tourists may soon be able to fast-track their U.S. visas—if they’re willing to pay an extra $750. Beginning July 1, a pilot program will offer travelers the option to skip ahead of other applicants when applying for a B-1 or B-2 nonimmigrant visa. The new paid track will allow applicants to secure an interview appointment, a requirement for visa approval, within 10 business days. Normally, interview appointments are handed out on a first-availability basis, which can range from weeks to months out. While the $750 payment will secure an appointment quickly, it does not change the requirements for eligibility and does not guarantee a visa. These expedited appointments will be available at consulates and embassies to be determined by the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. “Applicants who opt to pay for an expedited appointment will still be subject to all standard visa eligibility and processing requirements, including any administrative processing deemed necessary,” the State Department said in a temporary final rule (TFR) published in the Federal Register. There are currently three ways applicants may apply for an expedited appointment, each requiring intervention from consular and mission staff. The Referral process allows a U.S. government official on a diplomatic mission to vouch for an applicant. The Priority Appointment Request allows consular staff to request an earlier date for an applicant, at their discretion. Individuals may also apply for an Applicant-Requested Expedite Request, where applicants under extreme circumstances can apply for an earlier date, determined by a consular manager. “The new service to be implemented on a limited basis . . . will create a fee-based mechanism for applicants to obtain an expedited interview appointment that will reduce the strain on consular resources by bypassing both the requirement for the applicant to justify his or her need for an expedited interview appointment and the requirement that consular st