The Trump administration visa fee is considering a new $1,000 fee for tourists and other non-immigrant visa applicants who want to speed up their interview appointments. This plan would allow some travelers to pay extra to get earlier visa interviews, adding to the current $185 processing fee all applicants already pay. The information comes from an internal State Department memo and a U.S. official.
The premium service could start as a pilot program as early as December. However, government lawyers have raised legal concerns, warning that charging more than the cost of the service may violate U.S. law and Supreme Court decisions. The plan might also be rejected by the White House budget office or blocked in court.
The State Department said it does not comment on internal documents but confirmed that it is working to improve visa services worldwide. Since Donald Trump took office, immigration policies have tightened. Some student visas were revoked, and all visa applicants have faced increased scrutiny.
In fiscal year 2023, the State Department issued 10.4 million non-immigrant visas, including 5.9 million tourist visas. The World Travel and Tourism Council expects U.S. international travel spending to decline by about 7% in 2025. This drop is partly due to opposition to Trump-era policies and a stronger U.S. dollar, which makes travel more expensive for visitors.
The proposed fee comes as part of a broader vision by Trump to change immigration rules, including selling U.S. citizenship for $5 million through a so-called “gold card” program. Critics argue that these changes could favor wealthy travelers, making access to U.S. visas more difficult for people from lower-income countries.
If approved, the fast-track fee would let those willing to pay get quicker visa interviews. This could help some travelers but may also increase inequality in visa access. The pilot program’s future remains uncertain, pending government approval and legal review.
