The United States Department of State has announced a new paid service that may allow some B1/B2 visa applicants to get interview appointments within 10 business days.

Under the pilot scheme, travellers applying for US business or tourist visas can pay an additional $750 on top of the $185 visa application fee, to have their interview date prioritised.
The department announced in a June 9 notice in the Federal Register the optional premium service will be available at select U.S. embassies and consulates.

The initiative is set to kick off on July 1 and run through Dec. 31, 2026, though officials said it could go beyond the initial six-month period.

The State Department did not name the diplomatic missions that will take part in the program, making it unclear whether the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the Consulate General in Lagos would be involved.
Many visa applicants are already experiencing long wait times for interview dates. Currently, applicants for B1/B2 visas in Abuja are estimated to wait approximately 11.5 months for an appointment.

B1/B2 visas are issued for those traveling to the United States for temporary business, tourism, medical or to visit relatives.

The department stressed that payment of the expedited appointment fee does not guarantee approval of a visa, as applicants must still meet all eligibility requirements.

The new option also comes at a time when tighter immigration measures are being applied to some foreign nationals under the Donald Trump administration. Nigerians are among the applicants who could be asked to post visa bonds of as much as $15,000 in some cases.

Several African countries are also subject to partial US travel restrictions and reports last month suggested the number of US diplomatic posts handling visa services across Africa could be cut from nearly 50 to around 20.