US visas now have a fast lane for those who pay an extra $750
What happened
The State Department added a new fee for some visa applicants. People can now pay an extra $750 to get a business or tourism visa interview within ten days at certain locations.
Why it matters
This creates a two-tiered system for accessing US visas. People who can afford the extra fee can bypass the standard wait times, which are often very long in many countries. This shifts access from a purely queue-based system to one where money buys speed, at least for some applicants.
The signal
Watch how many people pay the extra fee and how long the standard wait times become at the specific embassies and consulates offering the expedited service.