US Introduces $750 Fast-Track B1/B2 Visa Interview Option — Pilot from 1 July 2026

The US State Department has created a new $750 fee for an expedited B1/B2 — business and tourism — visa interview appointment. Announced in a temporary final rule published in the Federal Register on 9 June 2026, the option lets applicants who pay it secure an interview at selected posts within ten business days. It is a purely optional premium on top of the standard non-immigrant visa application (MRV) fee, which remains $185 for B1/B2 applicants — roughly $935 in total for the premium route. The service is offered only at a limited number of embassies and consulates, published on travel.state.gov, and in limited quantities. The pilot runs from 1 July 2026 through 31 December 2026, and the State Department has linked it to demand around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the US co-hosts, and preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Because each consular section makes only a limited number of expedited appointments available based on its capacity, the State Department is explicit that there is no guarantee an expedited slot will be available to every applicant who wants one. The paid route replaces the older approach of requesting an emergency or priority appointment with written justification — here, eligible applicants can simply pay to move forward, subject to availability.

US visitor-visa demand from the UAE is high, and interview wait times at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai have at times stretched to many months. A paid fast-track option could therefore be genuinely useful to UAE residents planning travel for the 2026 World Cup or other trips — but only if the UAE posts are among those selected, which the State Department had not confirmed as of 11 June 2026. Where it is offered, the option is open to applicants of any nationality applying at that post: it is tied to where you apply, not to your passport. Because slots are limited, it is best treated as a possible convenience rather than a guaranteed shortcut.

1. 1Check travel.state.gov and your local US mission’s website to see whether your post — for UAE residents, the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai — is offering the paid expedited appointment during the pilot.
2. 2Decide early: the pilot runs only from 1 July to 31 December 2026, and the number of expedited slots is limited.
3. 3Complete your DS-160 and pay the standard application fee first — the expedite option is selected afterward, when booking your appointment.
4. 4Have a payment card ready so you can pay the expedite fee quickly; you get only a 5–10 minute hold on the slot before it is released.
5. 5Prepare your interview documents thoroughly whichever appointment you choose — a faster appointment does not change what the consular officer assesses.

This update is based on publicly available information from the U.S. Department of State’s temporary final rule published in the Federal Register on 9 June 2026, cross-referenced with reporting by Gulf News and The New York Times, verified as of 11 June 2026. The $750 expedited-appointment fee is an optional premium that takes effect on 1 July 2026 and applies only at selected posts published on travel.state.gov; as of this date, the participating posts — including whether the UAE’s Abu Dhabi and Dubai missions are included — had not been confirmed. This analysis is provided for informational purposes to help UAE residents understand the change. It does not constitute legal advice. For the latest official information, always refer to travel.state.gov and your local US mission.