Trump administration proposes $1,000 fast-track fee for US tourist visas; government lawyers raise red flags

Trump administration plans $1,000 fee to fast-track tourist visas: Report

The Trump administration plans to introduce a $1,000 fee for tourists and other non-immigrant visa applicants to fast-track their visa interview appointments according to a US official and an internal State Department memo cited Reuters.

The government lawyers have raised red flags over Trump's plans the report cited.

Individuals applying for tourist and other non-immigrant visas to the US currently pay a $185 processing fee. The proposed $1,000 fee would offer a premium service, allowing select applicants to expedite their visa interview appointments and move ahead in the queue for faster processing.

According to a Reuters report, the memo stated that this could be introduced as a pilot program as early as December.

The internal memo also highlights legal warnings from the State Department’s own lawyers, who cautioned that the plan faces a “high risk” of being blocked by the White House budget office or overturned in court.

The legal review warned that charging "a fee above the cost to provide the service is contrary to settled Supreme Court precedent," raising doubts about the program’s legality and the risk of it being perceived as monetizing government services.

The proposed fee for visa appointments, which has not been previously reported, comes alongside President Donald Trump's vision of a "gold card" that would sell US citizenship for USD 5 million, granting faster access to those willing to pay.

"The department's scheduling of non-immigrant visa interview appointments is dynamic and we are continually working to improve our operations worldwide," State department spokesperson said.

Since taking the office on January 20, President Donald Trump has taken swift action on immigration - revoking certain student visas, tightening screening procedures, and now exploring a paid fast-track option for visa processing.

In fiscal year 2023, the State Department issued 10.4 million non-immigrant visas, including 5.9 million for tourists, according to its latest annual report.

(With Reuters inputs)