US Visa Fast-Track Fee: Trump Eyes $1,000 Priority Interview Service for Tourists
US Visa Fast-Track Fee Could Debut by December, Memo Warns of ‘High Risk’
The Trump administration is considering implementing a US visa fast-track fee of $1,000 for tourists and other non-immigrant applicants who wish to expedite their visa interview appointments, according to a senior official and a confidential State Department memo obtained by Reuters. The premium service would allow paying applicants to bypass the regular waiting period and gain quicker access to visa interviews—a privilege that comes at a steep cost.
Currently, applicants pay a $185 standard visa processing fee. The proposed $1,000 add-on would function as a premium-tier offering, similar to expedited services in other government and private sectors. However, the controversial proposal is already facing serious headwinds from government lawyers who argue that such a plan could run afoul of constitutional and legal precedents.
“The risk is high,” warns a legal analysis cited in the memo. “Setting a fee significantly above the actual cost of the service contradicts established Supreme Court decisions,” the document states. If implemented, the US visa fast-track fee could face rejection from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget or be invalidated in federal courts, the memo cautioned.
US Visa: A Two-Tier System?
The plan aligns with former President Donald Trump’s broader immigration agenda, including his recently unveiled “gold card” program—a proposal to grant US citizenship to foreign nationals willing to pay $5 million. Critics argue that both initiatives contribute to a two-tiered immigration system that prioritises the wealthy and diminishes equity.
“The idea of fast-tracking visas for a $1,000 fee not only raises ethical questions but also creates a system that favours affluence over merit or need,” said an immigration policy analyst with the Migration Policy Institute.
Despite the concerns, the memo reveals that the plan could be rolled out as early as December 2025 in a limited pilot phase. A State Department spokesperson, while refusing to comment on internal deliberations, told Reuters that the department is “continually working to improve visa operations worldwide.”
Visa Landscape Under Trump
Since returning to the office in January 2025, President Trump has taken a hardline stance on immigration. His administration has revoked various student visas, tightened background checks, and imposed more rigid scrutiny on all visa applicants. According to the State Department’s 2023 report, 10.4 million non-immigrant visas were issued, with tourist visas comprising more than half at 5.9 million.
These stricter policies, combined with the strengthening US dollar, are already affecting the tourism industry. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) projects a 7% drop in international travel spending in the US for 2025, attributing the decline partly to growing global opposition to Trump’s immigration strategies.
Legal Uncertainty Ahead
Though the administration has yet to publicly announce the US visa fast-track fee, the internal debates and legal warnings underscore the complexity of such a move. Immigration attorneys warn that introducing a fee significantly above service costs without congressional approval or transparent justification may render the policy vulnerable to legal challenges.
“This isn’t just a policy decision—it’s a legal gamble,” said a former State Department attorney. “The courts have been clear: government services must be reasonably priced, and fees can’t become paywalls to due process.”
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