The Trump administration is weighing a new proposal that would charge tourists and other non-immigrant visa applicants a hefty $1,000 for expedited interview appointments. However, legal concerns have been raised by government attorneys regarding this plan, as stated by a U.S. official and a memo from within the State Department.
People applying for tourist and other non-immigrant visas are currently required to pay a processing fee of $185. The proposed $1,000 fee would serve as an option for expedited service, allowing certain applicants to move to the front of the line for interviews.
A spokesperson for the State Department noted that the agency does not comment on internal documents and discussions but emphasized that their scheduling for visa interviews is continuously being improved worldwide.
Since President Trump assumed office on January 20, he has implemented strict measures on immigration, which include revoking some student visas and imposing heightened scrutiny on all visa applications.
According to the most recent annual report from the State Department, around 10.4 million non-immigrant visas were issued in fiscal year 2023, which included about 5.9 million tourist visas.
In a report from May, the World Travel and Tourism Council projected that international travel spending in the United States could decline by approximately 7% in 2025, caused by backlash against Trump’s policies and a strong U.S. dollar prompting foreign visitors to choose different destinations.
