Headlines:
DOS Creates $750 Charge for Expedited B-1/B-2 Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Appointments – The brand new payment, efficient July 1, will permit eligible B-1/B-2 visa candidates to safe an interview appointment at chosen posts inside 10 enterprise days, topic to availability.
Visa Bulletin for July 2026 Contains Updates for China, India, Philippines – The Division of State’s Visa Bulletin for July 2026 consists of updates in a number of employment-based inexperienced card classes.
Particulars:
DOS Creates $750 Charge for Expedited B-1/B-2 Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Appointments
The Division of State (DOS) revealed a short-term closing rule, efficient July 1 via December 31, 2026, to create a $750 payment for an expedited B-1/B-2 enterprise and tourism nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview appointment. The brand new payment will permit B-1/B-2 visa candidates to safe an interview appointment at chosen posts inside 10 enterprise days, topic to availability.
DOS mentioned that this service “might be an elective premium addition to the usual NIV utility payment and might be provided solely to candidates at restricted posts as revealed on journey.state.gov and in restricted portions.” It’s being provided as a pilot program “to evaluate demand from candidates for visas who search to bypass longer wait occasions for visa interviews,” DOS defined.
Immigration attorneys have famous that the pilot program seems to create a separate, fee-based pathway to expedited B-1/B-2 visa appointments that doesn’t require candidates to reveal pressing circumstances, reminiscent of important enterprise wants, medical emergencies, humanitarian points, or different compelling causes. The brand new payment solely expedites the visa appointment, not processing in any other case, and the standard charges are nonetheless required. The expedited appointment doesn’t assure visa issuance, and it doesn’t expedite any later adjudicative steps, together with administrative processing.
Visa Bulletin for July 2026 Contains Updates for China, India, Philippines
The Division of State’s Visa Bulletin for July 2026 consists of updates for China, India, and the Philippines in a number of employment-based inexperienced card classes:
- Retrogression within the EB-1 class for India. Excessive demand has made it essential to retrogress the ultimate motion date to carry quantity use throughout the fiscal yr (FY) 2026 annual restrict. Additional retrogression or making the class unavailable could also be mandatory within the coming months if India’s pro-rated restrict on this class is reached earlier than the fiscal yr ends.
- Unavailability of EB-2 numbers for India. India’s pro-rated EB-2 restrict was reached, and the class is unavailable for the rest of FY 2026. In October, when the brand new fiscal yr begins, the ultimate motion date is more likely to advance however will depend upon demand for EB-2 numbers by Indian candidates and the FY 2027 annual restrict on employment-based visas.
- Visa availability within the EB-2 class for China. It could be essential to retrogress the ultimate motion date or make this class unavailable within the coming months to carry quantity use throughout the most allowed underneath the FY 2026 annual restrict.
- Visa availability within the EB-3 class for the Philippines. It could be essential to retrogress the ultimate motion date or make this class unavailable within the coming months to carry quantity use throughout the most allowed underneath the FY 2026 annual restrict.
- Unavailability of EB-5 unreserved numbers for India. India’s pro-rated EB-5 unreserved restrict was reached, and the class is unavailable for the rest of FY 2026. In October, the ultimate motion date is more likely to advance however will depend upon demand for EB-5 unreserved numbers by Indian candidates and the FY 2027 annual restrict on employment-based visas.
Agency within the Information
Cyrus Mehta was a featured speaker on the AILA Annual Convention in San Diego, CA on the next panels: “When Illustration Goes Unsuitable: Defending Purchasers and Restoring Belief” on June 18, 2026 and “Defending and Defending Your Consumer – and Your self” on June 20, 2026.
David Isaacson was a featured speaker on the AILA Annual Convention in San Diego, CA and spoke on the panel “Habeas Corpus: Difficult Extended or Illegal Detention” on June 19, 2026
