WASHINGTON- The Trump administration has begun exploring a controversial $1,000 premium fee structure for tourists and non-immigrant visa applicants seeking expedited interview appointments.
Federal officials have developed this proposal as part of broader immigration policy reforms, though government lawyers have flagged significant legal challenges that could derail the initiative.
Photo: Credits to CreatorUS Visa Processing
Individuals currently entering the United States on tourist and other non-immigrant visas pay a standard $185 processing fee. The proposed $1,000 premium service would create a two-tiered system allowing wealthy applicants to bypass standard waiting periods for visa interviews.
This fee structure represents a dramatic departure from the existing uniform processing approach that has governed visa applications for decades.
Internal State Department documents indicate the program could launch in pilot form as early as December 2025.
The expedited service would function as a premium option alongside existing visa processing channels, creating separate queues for standard and premium applicants. Federal officials have positioned this timeline as aggressive but achievable given current administrative priorities.
US Ambassador to India- Eric Garcetti; Photo- US Embassy and Consulates in IndiaLegal Obstacles
The State Department’s legal team has identified substantial constitutional and procedural barriers to implementation.
Government lawyers have warned of a “high risk” that the White House budget office would reject the proposal or federal courts would strike down the program.
Legal experts within the department have specifically cited Supreme Court precedent that prohibits government agencies from setting fees above the actual cost of providing services.
The internal memo reviewed by Reuters emphasised that charging fees exceeding service costs violates established legal principles.
Tourists at Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles; Photo- M McBey | FlickrImmigration Policy Integration
The premium visa fee proposal aligns with President Trump’s broader vision of monetising immigration services.
Trump has simultaneously promoted a “gold card” program that would sell United States citizenship for $5 million, targeting wealthy individuals seeking accelerated pathways to American residency.
These initiatives reflect the administration’s strategy of creating premium immigration options for affluent applicants.
The State Department processed 10.4 million non-immigrant visas during fiscal year 2023, including 5.9 million tourist visas, according to the agency’s most recent annual report.
This substantial volume demonstrates the scale of potential revenue generation from premium fee structures, though it also highlights the operational complexity of implementing dual processing systems.
Photo: Digit InsuranceFuture Outlook
State Department officials have declined to comment on internal documents and communications regarding the premium fee proposal.
Department spokespersons have emphasised that visa interview scheduling remains dynamic and that officials continue working to improve operations worldwide.
The administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement measures, including revoked student visas and increased scrutiny of all visa applicants, have created additional processing pressures since Trump’s January 20 inauguration.
The proposed premium visa fee program represents a significant test of the administration’s ability to implement revenue-generating immigration policies while navigating constitutional constraints and legal precedents established by previous court decisions.
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