A Grand to Cut the Line: Trump’s Visa Fast-Track Plan Turns U.S. Entry Into a Luxury Product

The administration’s latest proposal would let wealthier tourists skip years-long visa lines — for a fee.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is advancing a plan that would allow international travelers to the United States to pay $1,000 to jump the line for visa interviews — a move immigrant rights advocates say could further monetize migration, reward the wealthy, and undermine the idea of fair access to U.S. soil.

According to an internal State Department memo obtained by Reuters, the fee would apply to nonimmigrant visas — primarily tourists and short-term visitors — and offer a premium lane to speed up notoriously long wait times. Current processing fees sit at $185, but applicants in countries like India, Mexico, and Brazil often wait 6 months or more just to get an interview.

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The pilot program could launch as early as December, in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted partly in the U.S. But it’s already facing legal headwinds.

Government lawyers flagged the fee as “high risk,” warning that setting a price above actual service costs runs afoul of Supreme Court precedent. Critics also argue the plan violates both domestic law and international norms that prohibit discrimination based on wealth in matters of state entry.

From Gold Cards to Fast Passes