U.S. Embassies Introduce Paid Expedited Appointment Channel for B1/B2 Visa Applicants

Starting July 1, 2026, B1/B2 business and tourist visa applicants can secure a visa interview within 10 working days by paying a $750 expedited service fee. This marks the first time the U.S. Department of State has launched a commercial paid expedited interview pilot program, with a trial period running from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. It must be clearly stated that: expedited service only speeds up the appointment; it does not guarantee visa approval. The $750 fee solely shortens the waiting time for the interview slot and has no bearing on the visa adjudication result. For applicants in mainland China, given that the processing efficiency of U.S. consulates in China ranks among the global top tier (Beijing and Shanghai: approx. 2 to 2.5 months; Shenyang and Wuhan: approx. half a month), the practical value of this new policy requires rational assessment.

I. Key Points of the New Policy

B1/B2 visa applicants are the sole target group for this pilot program. Regarding fees, applicants are required to bear the standard visa application fee of $185 (a mandatory fee for all B1/B2 applicants) and the optional expedited service fee of $750, totaling $935. The $750 expedited fee is not included in any existing fees and is a purely additional expense.

According to the rules published by the U.S. Department of State, the application process is divided into five steps: First, submit a complete DS-160 form online and pay the $185 standard visa application fee. Second, select the earliest available regular interview time through the official scheduling system. Third, if the applicant’s consulate participates in the pilot and has remaining expedited slots, the system will display an expedited interview option within 10 working days. Fourth, after selecting the expedited time, the system will temporarily reserve the slot for 5 to 10 minutes, during which the applicant must complete the online payment of the $750 expedited fee; otherwise, the slot will be released. Finally, upon successful payment, the applicant attends the interview at the consulate at the scheduled expedited time.

The total capacity for this pilot program is expected to be 25,000 expedited requests, with expedited slots strictly limited to a tiny fraction of the overall appointment capacity at each pilot consulate. The Department of State explicitly states that “there is no guarantee that expedited interview slots will be available to every interested applicant.” The list of participating consulates has not yet been fully released, and the Department of State will announce the specific list and quota information in phases via the official travel website.

II. Policy Background

Currently, regular B visa interview wait times are extremely long at many U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. While the global median wait time is about 30 days, in specific overseas locations, applicants may wait over 12 months for an interview: the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi has appointments booked out 16 months, the U.S. Consulate in Toronto over 14 months, and the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver 12 months. The year 2026 coincides with the North American World Cup (June 11 to July 19, 2026), which is expected to attract millions of tourists to North America. Coupled with the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, short-term travel demand to the U.S. will significantly increase. The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. has repeatedly advised citizens planning to attend the World Cup to apply for B1/B2 visas early. Additionally, the previous free expedited channels (such as humanitarian emergencies) required consular officers to review and approve each case individually, consuming significant human resources. The new paid expedited service requires no written justification or supporting documents from applicants and can be applied for directly through a digital process, thereby reducing the burden of manual review.

III. Impact on Chinese Applicants

According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of State, B1/B2 visa processing times at U.S. consulates in mainland China rank among the global top tier, with efficiency far exceeding most overseas regions. The regular interview wait time at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing is about 2 months; Shanghai and Guangzhou take about 2 to 2.5 months; while Shenyang and Wuhan are the most efficient, requiring only about half a month. Applicants in mainland China do not need to blindly spend the extra $750 on the expedited channel. Even during peak travel seasons like the 2026 World Cup, the pace of U.S. visa processing in China remains stable, and the existing regular appointment channels are sufficient to meet the needs of the vast majority of people.

The following three types of Chinese applicants may consider the paid expedited service at their discretion: business travelers with urgent trips (e.g., last-minute meetings, business negotiations, or trade shows with strong time sensitivity); last-minute World Cup fans (who decide to travel during the World Cup but cannot secure a suitable regular appointment); and those with sudden summer travel needs (summer is traditionally the peak season for U.S. visa applications, and some applicants may have fixed itineraries but fail to secure an interview in time). However, for the vast majority of applicants traveling for regular tourism or visiting relatives, this $750 expense is completely unnecessary.

Here, Law Offices of Brian Jiang would like to specifically warn all applicants about three major misconceptions: Misconception 1: “Buying a Visa” — The Department of State has specifically clarified that the $750 expedited fee only applies to shortening the interview appointment wait time; it does not mean the applicant will obtain a visa, nor does it affect the visa adjudication result. Misconception 2: “Expedited Means Accelerated Approval” — Applicants who choose the expedited service must still undergo the exact same qualification review as regular applicants. The expedited service does not shorten administrative processing time; if post-interview supplementary materials or background checks (administrative processing) are required, they will be handled under normal procedures. Misconception 3: “Automatic Participation of China Posts” — It has not yet been confirmed whether U.S. consulates in mainland China are included in this pilot scope; applicants must closely monitor official announcements from the U.S. Department of State.

IV. Coexistence of Paid and Free Expedited Channels

The new paid expedited channel does not replace the existing free expedited mechanism; both operate in parallel. The paid expedited channel costs $750, applies to all B1/B2 applicants regardless of reason, and is applied for via an online self-service method without requiring any supporting documents. Upon successful booking, applicants can secure an interview within 10 working days, and this pilot is valid from July 1 to December 31, 2026. The free expedited channel requires no fees but is only applicable to specific emergencies such as humanitarian crises, urgent medical needs, or U.S. national interest. Applicants must submit a written application and relevant supporting documents to the consular officer for case-by-case review and approval, and this channel remains valid long-term. Typical scenarios for free expedited include: the applicant or immediate family members requiring urgent medical treatment in the U.S. (requiring a medical condition statement from a Chinese doctor, an acceptance letter from a U.S. hospital, and cost receipts); or immediate family members attending a funeral or handling remains.

Summary: From July 1 to December 31, 2026, B1/B2 visa applicants can pay a $750 expedited fee for an interview within 10 working days. However, expedited service only speeds up the appointment; it does not guarantee approval, does not accelerate adjudication, and is non-refundable. For mainland Chinese applicants, given the leading efficiency of domestic processing, the vast majority do not need to spend this extra money. It is recommended to assess your own urgency before making a rational decision.

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