The US Department of State has announced a new premium service that will allow eligible visitor visa applicants to secure an interview appointment within 10 business days, for an additional $750 (Sh97,500) fee. The pilot programme is designed to reduce the long visa appointment waiting times experienced by applicants at US embassies. The new service targets business travellers and tourists with urgent plans.
This will be a welcome relief for Kenyan tourists and business people eager to attend the ongoing World Cup and other events on short notice. Starting July 1, 2026, eligible applicants for B-1 Business and B-2 Tourist visas may pay an additional $750 premium processing fee to receive an expedited visa interview appointment. The service aims to provide interview appointments within 10 business days, provided slots are available at participating US embassies and consulates.
The pilot programme will run for six months and will end on December 31, 2026 with a full list of participating embassies expected to be released. The total cost of the premium service is $935 (Sh121,550). This includes the Standard Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee of $185 (Sh24,050) and the additional Premium Expedited Interview Fee. If Kenyan B-1 and B-2 visa applicants choose, they can still opt for the cheaper MRV fee but they will forgo the expedited process.
The fast-track option is only available for Business Visitor Visa and Tourist Visa applicants. The US Department of State will publish an update of the list of participating embassy locations.
Kenyan visa applicants should note, however, that the premium interview service does not apply to student visas (F-1), Exchange visitor visas (J-1), Work visas (H, L, O), Family-sponsored immigrant visas, Employment-based immigrant visas and citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). These travellers must continue using existing appointment procedures.
Applicants should also note that the new expedited premium service is not open to refugees or those who have sought asylum. While they are still considered a special category, this expedited service does not apply to them. Immigration attorney Jorge Sanchez says, “Asylum seekers can continue with the process of regularising their status and receiving the benefits and protections the law provides via the traditional asylum application process.”
Starting July 1, 2026, eligible applicants for B-1 Business and B-2 Tourist visas may pay an additional $750 premium processing fee to receive an expedited visa interview appointment.
Photo credit: Pool
The US State Department, however, also points out that paying the Premium Expedited Interview Fee of $750 does not improve an applicant’s approval chances, or influence the outcome of a visa interview. It only accelerates the interview appointment. Paying the Premium Expedited Interview Fee also does not waive additional security checks or background reviews. In addition to this, if a visa application requires further administrative processing after the interview, applicants must still wait through the normal review timeline.
If the US embassy or consulate participates in the pilot and premium appointments are available, an applicant can choose to upgrade their appointment. Once a premium slot becomes available, applicants will receive a strict 5 to 10-minute payment window to complete the $750 payment. Failure to pay within that timeframe will result in the appointment being released to another applicant.
The US is introducing this programme because many US embassies have struggled with lengthy visitor visa appointment backlogs following the Covid-19 pandemic. In many African countries, applicants have faced waiting periods stretching several months before obtaining an interview date. The premium service is intended to provide an optional solution for travellers who need to visit the United States urgently.
New York-based immigration lawyer Blaise Odhiambo feels that applicants also have the option of using an immigration attorney to organise their visa paperwork and advise them on other complex immigration questions such as Adjustment of Status (AOS) once they get their visas.
“It is important to have a credible and professional attorney to file immigration paperwork even with this expedited premium service, to let applicants know the multiple immigration options available to them in the US,” says Blaise, who is an expert in business-related immigration law.
About the expedited premium service, Political Science professor Eric Otenyo of Northern Arizona University says, “The gesture is good for business persons who may afford it. However, I think the B2 tourist visa fee should be lowered to help support the industries in the USA that depend on tourism. For instance, in the state of Arizona, many tourist zones like Yellowstone and Grand Canyon would benefit from more tourists via reduced B2 tourist visa fees. Generally, administrative rules have the power of law but may be changed by different administrations to suit local conditions.”
The service could benefit Kenyan diaspora families, whose relatives and friends often seek visitor visas for graduations, weddings, holidays, reunions, or important life events. The new premium option could benefit travellers facing urgent deadlines. However, the additional $750 fee places the service beyond the reach of many Kenyan applicants.
