US to charge $750 for 10-day visa interview fast-track pilot
What's new: The State Department plans to run the program from July 1 to Dec. 31 at select embassies and consulates.
The State Department plans to launch a pilot program that lets some foreign business and tourist visa applicants pay an extra $750 to secure interview appointments within 10 days at select US embassies and consulates. The fee would be added to the standard $185 visa application charge and would not guarantee visa approval. The pilot is set to run from July 1 through Dec. 31, with participating posts to be identified before it begins. The move comes as tougher screening and compliance rules have lengthened visa processing in many countries, including added personal-history disclosures and bonds for applicants from places with high overstay rates.