What is the New Expedited Pilot Program?
The U.S. Department of State has introduced a temporary pilot program designed to tackle the notoriously long wait times for visitor visa interviews. This initiative allows eligible applicants for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas to pay a premium
fee to secure an interview slot within 10 business days. The program is intended as a tool to help manage the immense backlog and provide an option for those with urgent travel needs who may not qualify for a traditional emergency appointment. It’s important to understand this is an optional, voluntary service being tested at select U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. The pilot is scheduled to run until December 31, 2026.
The Key Question: Is India on the List?
This is the most critical point for travellers in India: No, the U.S. consular posts in India are not currently part of this pilot program. As of the latest update on August 18, 2026, the service is being offered in locations like Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras. While the State Department has mentioned that additional locations may be added during the pilot period, there is no confirmation that India will be included. Therefore, applicants applying through the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or the consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad cannot use this paid expedited service at this time and must continue with the standard application process.
Breaking Down the $750 Cost
Should the program expand to India, it's crucial to understand the costs. The $750 fee is a premium paid for the expedited appointment only. It is charged in addition to the standard, non-refundable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee, which is currently $185. This brings the total upfront cost to $935 per applicant. For a family of four, this would mean paying $3,000 for the expedited service on top of their regular application fees. The $750 fee is non-refundable and the appointment, once booked, cannot be rescheduled. If you miss the appointment, the fee is forfeited.
The Fine Print: It's Not a 'Fast Pass' for a Visa
The State Department has been very clear that paying the extra fee only gets you an earlier interview date; it does not, in any way, guarantee visa approval or speed up the processing of the visa itself. Applicants using the service are subject to the exact same rigorous security screening and vetting procedures as everyone else. You must still prove your eligibility to the consular officer. Furthermore, the availability of these expedited slots is limited. Participating posts will only allocate a small number of these appointments each day. When an applicant finds an available slot, they must complete the $750 payment within just 10 minutes to secure it.
What Should Indian Applicants Do Now?
For now, the new pilot program changes nothing for Indian applicants. The existing procedures remain the only path forward. This involves paying the standard MRV fee, filling out the DS-160 form, and searching for an available appointment slot through the official portal. While the prospect of a 10-day interview is appealing, especially with wait times that have often stretched for many months, this premium service is not yet an option. It serves as a reminder of the high demand for U.S. visas in India and the value placed on timely travel. For those planning a trip, the best course of action remains to apply as early as possible and keep a close watch on official announcements from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India.
