SouthernWorldwide.com – The U.S. State Department is set to introduce a new premium service that will allow foreign business and tourist visa applicants to secure interview appointments in the United States within a 10-day timeframe. This expedited service comes with an additional fee of $750, on top of the standard $185 visa application fee.
This initiative will be launched as a pilot program, allowing eligible applicants to pay the extra charge for a faster interview slot at select U.S. embassies and consulates. The program is slated to be officially announced in the Federal Register this week, as reported by The Associated Press.
The pilot program is scheduled to run from July 1st to December 31st of the current year. Its continuation beyond this period will be contingent upon the level of demand observed during its initial phase.
STATE DEPARTMENT TO ASK FOR BONDS OF UP TO $15,000 FOR VISA APPLICATION FROM A DOZEN MORE COUNTRIES
Details regarding the specific embassies and consulates that will participate in this expedited interview program are expected to be released prior to the July 1st commencement date.
The introduction of this new expedited service is anticipated to help alleviate the current lengthy wait times for visa interviews. This comes at a time when the Trump administration has been implementing broader changes to visa screening and compliance regulations.
FOREIGN TRAVELERS SOON TO PAY ‘VISA INTEGRITY FEE’ TO VISIT US COSTING $250
In recent times, the federal government has bolstered several visa screening and compliance measures. These include the imposition of bonds, potentially reaching up to $15,000, for visa processing in certain countries identified as having high rates of visa overstays. Additionally, applicants are now required to disclose extensive personal history information, including details about their social media accounts, spanning several years.
These newly implemented requirements have, in turn, led to an increase in delays for visa processing for foreign nationals across various countries globally.
It is important to note that the $750 fee for this premium expedited service does not guarantee the issuance of a visa. However, it is designed to significantly reduce the waiting period for visa interviews, particularly for individuals applying from countries that are not part of the Visa Waiver Program, where wait times can currently extend to several months.
