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US visa applicants increasingly pay thousands extra as processing delays spiral out of control
International
Published on 8 May 2026
Premium processing is no longer optional for many
As standard US visa and work authorization processing gets slower, many applicants say they have no practical choice but to pay for premium processing. The once optional service is increasingly viewed as a necessity to prevent job loss or status disruption, with people in multiple visa and employment categories facing escalating waits and added costs.
- Premium processing demand is rising amid longer standard delays
- Applicants pay extra to avoid job loss and status disruptions
- This shift is happening across multiple visa and work categories
- Optional faster service is becoming a practical requirement
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times