The Trump administration is weighing a major change to the US visa course of: a $1,000 premium charge for vacationers and different non-immigrant visa candidates looking for quicker interview appointments.

In keeping with an inner State Division memo reviewed by Reuters, this new fast-track possibility would enable candidates to bypass the customarily months-long look forward to US visa interviews by paying a premium on prime of the usual $185 processing charge.

The proposed expedited service would particularly goal B1 and B2 visa classes, overlaying enterprise and vacationer journey, and is designed to alleviate long-standing delays at US consulates.

In cities like Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi, wait occasions for customer visa interviews at the moment stretch from eight to 14 months. By paying the $1,000 charge, eligible candidates might safe an earlier interview date, although the applying overview course of itself would stay unchanged.

The plan, which may very well be piloted as early as December 2025, is a part of a broader set of immigration measures being thought-about by the Trump administration since President Donald Trump’s return to workplace in January 2025.

These measures embrace tighter screening protocols for all visa classes and the introduction of a controversial “gold card” program, which proposes a $5 million path to US citizenship for buyers.

Whereas the premium charge proposal might attraction to vacationers from international locations like India, the place delays are particularly extreme, it has already sparked debate over equity and accessibility. Critics argue that the system would prioritize those that can afford to pay, probably disadvantaging candidates from lower-income backgrounds.

Authorities attorneys have additionally raised vital authorized considerations. The interior memo warns that charging a charge above the precise value of offering the service could violate established Supreme Courtroom precedent, making a “excessive danger” that the plan may very well be rejected by the White Home finances workplace or struck down in court docket. As of now, the US State Division has not confirmed the proposal, stating solely that visa appointment scheduling is “dynamic” and underneath steady overview.

The proposal comes at a time when worldwide journey to the US is projected to say no. The World Journey and Tourism Council estimates a 7 per cent drop in worldwide journey spending within the US for 2025, citing each a powerful greenback and rising discomfort with the administration’s immigration stance.

In 2023, the US issued 10.4 million non-immigrant visas, together with 5.9 million vacationer visas, underscoring the size of demand for well timed appointments. If carried out, the $1,000 fast-track charge might reshape the visa expertise for a lot of, however its future stays unsure as authorized and coverage opinions proceed.