Travellers applying for US tourist and business visas may soon be able to pay an additional US$750 to secure an interview within 10 business days under a temporary pilot programme announced by the US State Department.
The proposal comes as appointment wait times at the US Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, where Cayman residents typically apply for US visas, are currently stretching into November. However, US authorities have not yet announced which embassies and consulates will participate in the pilot, leaving it unclear whether the premium service will be available in Kingston.
Under a temporary final rule, or TFR, published in the Federal Register, the programme is scheduled to run from 1 July through 31 Dec. 2026.
The initiative applies only to B-1 and B-2 non-immigrant visas for business and tourism travel. Applicants would still be required to pay the standard US$185 visa application fee, bringing the total cost to US$935 for those choosing the expedited option.
The State Department said the number of premium appointments will be capped to avoid significantly affecting wait times for other applicants.
Officials said those who pay the additional fee may be able to secure an interview within 10 business days, subject to availability, but stressed that the payment does not guarantee visa approval. It also does not speed up the visa adjudication process or any administrative processing that may be required after the interview.
“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.
The announcement comes amid growing global demand for US visas and follows a series of recent changes to US immigration procedures, including increased scrutiny of certain travellers and additional security measures.
It also comes as a growing number of holders of passports from Visa Waiver Program countries, including the United Kingdom, have reported having their previously approved Electronic System for Travel Authorizations, or ESTAs, revoked without explanation, as previously reported by the Compass. Those travellers have been forced to abandon the cheaper and more convenient visa waiver route and instead apply for full US visas.
At present, travellers seeking an earlier visa interview have limited options, all of which require review or intervention by US officials rather than simply paying a fee.
One process allows a senior US government official at a diplomatic mission to formally support an applicant’s request. Another enables authorised embassy personnel to seek an earlier appointment for individuals whose travel is considered to be in the US national interest.
Applicants facing humanitarian emergencies or other urgent circumstances may also request an expedited interview, with each case reviewed individually by consular managers.
The new pilot programme would introduce a fourth pathway, allowing eligible applicants to pay for an expedited interview without having to demonstrate exceptional circumstances or obtain official backing.
“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 staff review each expedited request,” the TFR read.
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