Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates: Visa and Citizenship Services Fee Changes

Vanteo, a talent solutions firm, supports the Department of State's pilot program allowing B1/B2 visa applicants to pay a supplemental fee for expedited interviews. They urge the Department to make the program permanent, expand eligibility to other visa categories, and pair it with other efficiency measures like expanded interview waivers and third-country national processing.

The GREAT USA Coalition, representing over 30 member organizations in the travel and hospitality industries, supports the proposed temporary final rule as a constructive first step to expand visa interview capacity. While they express concerns about the high total cost for travelers and urge the Department to use the pilot's revenue for long-term structural investments in staffing and technology, they ultimately welcome the initiative to improve the visitor experience.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) opposes the proposed $750 nonimmigrant visa appointment expedite fee, arguing it creates a "pay to play" system that may disadvantage low-income applicants and humanitarian cases. They recommend that the Department of State prioritize expanding interview waivers, stateside renewals, and third-country national appointments instead of creating a high-cost premium fee.

The Equal Immigration Rights Center supports the proposal to implement an additional $750 fee for expedited non-immigrant visa processing as an effective way to address backlog delays. However, the organization requests clarification on whether non-profit organizations participating in international exchange programs would be subject to this new fee.

Miles Strebeck, a paralegal and immigration specialist, opposes the proposed $750 fee for expedited visa appointments, arguing it creates an unfair "pay-to-play" system that may increase demand and consular burden without improving capacity. He suggests that the Department should instead focus on increasing adjudicatory capacity, expanding visa interview waivers, and repealing restrictions on third-country nationals.

The commenter requests the immediate implementation of the Final Rule and seeks an exemption for B1 and B2 visa applications to bypass long wait times. They argue for fee waivers for certain individuals and cite various federal acts and agreements to support their request.

The commenter argues that the Department of State should allow E-2 visa applicants to pay a fee to expedite their interviews, similar to the process for tourists. They believe this would encourage more investment in the United States and job creation by providing more predictable processing times.

Arun Baral, an individual from Nepal, opposes the proposed fee increases for consular services. He argues that the current fees are already high and that charging extra premiums for emergency interviews is unfair to people in crisis.