Trump's pricey visa fast-pass: US$1,000 fee proposed to cut queues, but State Dept lawyers flag Supreme Court precedents
WASHINGTON, June 5 — The Trump administration is considering a US$1,000 fee for tourists and other non-immigrant visa applicants seeking an expedited interview appointment though government lawyers have raised legal red flags over the plan, according to a US official and an internal State Department memo.
Individuals entering the US on tourist and other non-immigrant visas already pay a US$185 (RM785) processing fee.
The new US$1,000 option the US is considering would be a premium service that allows some people to jump to the front of the line for visa interviews.
The programme could arrive in pilot form as soon as December, the memo reviewed by Reuters said.
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 US$5 million, granting faster access to those willing to pay.
But the State Department's legal team said there was a 'high risk' it would be rejected by the White House budget office or struck down in US courts, the memo said. Setting a fee above the cost to provide the service 'is contrary to settled Supreme Court precedent,' the memo said.
A State Department spokesperson said the department does not comment on internal documents and communications.
'The department's scheduling of non-immigrant visa interview appointments is dynamic and we are continually working to improve our operations worldwide,' the spokesperson said.
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has aggressively cracked down on immigration, including revoking some student visas and increasing scrutiny of all visa applicants.
The State Department issued 10.4 million non-immigrant visas in fiscal year 2023, including 5.9 million tourist visas, according to the agency's most recent annual report.
International travel spending in the United States is expected to decline about 7 per cent in 2025 as opposition to Trump's policies and a strong dollar prompt foreign visitors to opt for other destinations, the World Travel and Tourism Council said in May. — Reuters
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