What is the Expedited Appointment Program?
The U.S. Department of State has launched a temporary pilot program that allows certain visa applicants to pay a premium fee for a quicker interview slot. This initiative, running from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, is designed to help manage the
high demand for visas and reduce long waiting times at select embassies and consulates. For an additional fee of $750 USD, on top of the standard $185 visa application (MRV) fee, eligible applicants can schedule a visa interview within approximately 10 business days, subject to availability. It is a voluntary, optional service aimed at those with urgent travel needs for business or tourism (B-1/B-2 visas).
The Crucial Detail: It's Not a Faster Visa
It is critical to understand what this $750 fee actually buys. It secures an earlier interview date, not a faster visa approval or special treatment. The U.S. State Department has been clear that paying the fee does not improve an applicant's chances of getting the visa, nor does it accelerate any post-interview administrative processing or security checks. All applicants, whether they use the expedited option or not, are subject to the same rigorous screening and must meet all standard eligibility requirements under U.S. law. The fee is also non-refundable; if you miss the appointment or your visa is denied, the money is forfeited.
Why Indian Travellers Are Excluded
The simple reason Indian travellers cannot currently use this option is that U.S. embassies and consulates in India are not participating in the pilot program. The service has been rolled out at select diplomatic posts, including all locations in Canada and Mexico, as well as embassies in Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras. The exclusion is based on the participating location, not the nationality of the applicant. Therefore, anyone scheduling their B-1/B-2 visa interview at the U.S. consular posts in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Kolkata will not see the option to pay for an expedited appointment.
How the Program Works for Eligible Applicants
For those applying at a participating post, the process requires first completing the standard visa application (Form DS-160), paying the $185 MRV fee, and scheduling a regular interview. Only after these steps are completed will the scheduling system show if any paid expedited slots are available. If a slot is visible, the applicant can select it and has a very short window—often just 10 minutes—to pay the additional $750 fee to secure the booking. These appointments are limited in number each day.
Context of US Visa Processing in India
While this specific pilot is unavailable, U.S. visa services in India have been operating at a high capacity to clear the significant post-pandemic backlog. Officials have noted that they are processing a record number of visas and have taken other steps to reduce wait times, such as increasing staff and offering a large number of interview waiver appointments for eligible repeat travellers. The long-term trend for immigrant visas, however, shows significant backlogs, particularly in employment-based categories like EB-2 and EB-3 for Indian nationals, as highlighted in the August 2026 Visa Bulletin. This new B-1/B-2 pilot is a separate initiative aimed squarely at nonimmigrant tourist and business travel.
Will India Be Included in the Future?
The U.S. State Department has indicated that additional locations may be added to the pilot program before it concludes at the end of 2026, depending on operational capacity and the results from the initial rollout. However, there has been no confirmation that Indian posts will be included. For now, Indian applicants must continue to use the standard appointment scheduling system and look for regular expedited appointments based on humanitarian or urgent business needs, which is a separate, long-standing process that does not involve an extra fee. The current pilot will be evaluated at the end of the year to determine if it will be modified, cancelled, or made permanent.
