What Is The Expedited Programme?
The U.S. Department of State is testing a new pilot initiative called the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Expedited Appointment Program. This system is designed as a potential answer to the extremely long visa appointment backlogs seen in many countries. In essence,
it allows eligible applicants for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas to pay a substantial fee to secure a visa interview appointment much sooner than they would through the standard queue. The programme offers an interview within 10 business days, subject to availability at the participating consulate. It's an optional, voluntary service aimed at travellers with urgent needs who don't qualify for a traditional, free emergency appointment.
The Key Question: Is India Included?
This is the most critical point for travellers in India: No, not at present. As of August 2026, the pilot programme is not active at any of the U.S. embassies or consulates in India, including those in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The initial rollout and subsequent expansions have focused on posts in other parts of the world, such as Mexico, Canada, and several countries in Central America. While the State Department has indicated that additional locations may be added during the pilot period, which runs until the end of 2026, there is no official confirmation on if or when Indian posts will be included. For now, applicants in India must continue to use the standard appointment process.
How the Programme Is Designed to Work
The process is not as simple as just paying a fee upfront. An applicant must first go through the entire standard procedure. This involves completing the DS-160 online application form and paying the non-refundable $185 Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee. After paying this fee, the applicant must schedule a regular interview appointment, even if it is many months in the future. Only after securing a standard appointment will the system show a “Paid Expedite” option, and only if the applicant is applying at a participating consulate and if there are paid slots available on that day. These slots are limited. If a slot is available and selected, the applicant has only about 10 minutes to complete the $750 payment to secure it.
Breaking Down the Steep Cost
The price of speed is high. The expedited appointment fee is $750. This is an additional charge on top of the standard $185 visa application (MRV) fee. This brings the total upfront cost for a single applicant using this service to $935. It's crucial to note that this fee is per person. For a family of four, this would mean paying the $750 fee four times over, in addition to each person's individual MRV fee. Furthermore, the $750 fee is strictly non-refundable and non-transferable. If an applicant misses their scheduled expedited appointment for any reason, the fee is forfeited entirely.
What Your Money Buys (And What It Doesn't)
It is essential to understand the limits of this programme. Paying the $750 fee buys one thing and one thing only: an earlier date for your visa interview. It does not guarantee that your visa will be approved. Applicants using this service undergo the exact same rigorous security screening and eligibility checks as everyone else. The fee also does not grant you faster visa processing after the interview. If your case requires 'administrative processing' or further review, paying for an early appointment will not speed up that backend process. You are paying for a spot in a shorter queue for the interview, not for a different or more lenient outcome.
The Outlook for Indian Applicants
With India currently excluded from the pilot, the frustration of long wait times continues. The standard wait time for a B-1/B-2 visa interview in India can range from a few months to over a year, depending on the consulate and time of year. Indian applicants should continue to rely on the existing system. This includes booking an appointment as far in advance as possible and regularly checking the system for earlier cancelled slots that may become available. The free expedited appointment request for true emergencies—like urgent medical treatment or the death of an immediate family member—remains a separate process. As the paid pilot program is temporary and being tested, travellers should monitor official announcements from the U.S. State Department and local U.S. consulates for any future changes.
