What is the Expedited Appointment Pilot?
The U.S. Department of State has launched a temporary pilot program officially called the Nonimmigrant Visa Expedited Appointment Pilot Program. Running until December 31, 2026, this initiative allows certain visa applicants to pay an additional fee of $750
to schedule an interview appointment within 10 business days, depending on availability. The program is designed specifically for individuals applying for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas. The goal is to test a fee-based system to manage the high demand for appointments and provide a transparent option for those with urgent travel needs, without them having to meet the strict criteria for a traditional emergency request. This pilot is an optional service. Applicants can still use the standard appointment process without paying the extra fee.
The Key Question: Is It Available in India?
This is the most critical point for applicants in India: No, this $750 pilot program is not currently available at any of the U.S. consular posts in India. As of August 2026, the service is being tested in other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica, among others. While the State Department has mentioned that additional locations could be added during the pilot period, there has been no official announcement including India in the program. Therefore, applicants applying through the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or the consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad cannot use this paid option. It is essential to rely only on official announcements from the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India website for any updates.
How the Process Works in Participating Countries
To understand how the system might operate if it were extended to India, it’s useful to know the mechanics. An applicant must first go through the standard procedure: fill out the DS-160 form, create a profile on the visa appointment website, and pay the non-refundable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee, which is currently $185 for B-visas. After paying the fee, they schedule a regular visa appointment. Only at this stage, if they are applying at a participating post, will they be able to see if a “Paid Expedite” option is available. If they choose this option and an expedited slot is free, they must pay the additional $750 fee online within a very short window—typically 10 minutes—to secure that earlier appointment.
What Does the $750 Fee Actually Guarantee?
It is vital to understand that the $750 fee guarantees only one thing: an earlier interview slot, subject to availability. It does not, in any way, guarantee visa approval. Paying the fee does not influence the consular officer's decision, nor does it expedite the security screening, background checks, or any administrative processing that might be required after the interview. Every applicant, whether they pay for an earlier slot or not, goes through the same rigorous vetting process. The total upfront cost for using this service is $935 ($185 MRV fee + $750 expedite fee). Importantly, both the MRV fee and the expedited appointment fee are non-refundable. If an applicant misses their paid appointment, they forfeit the fee.
What Are the Current Options for Indian Applicants?
Since the $750 pilot is off the table for now, Indian applicants facing long wait times have to rely on existing mechanisms. The primary method is the standard appointment system. For those with genuine, documented emergencies—such as an urgent medical need or the death of an immediate family member in the U.S.—it is possible to request an emergency appointment through the visa scheduling website. These requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. Additionally, the Interview Waiver Program (commonly known as the "dropbox" option) remains a key avenue for those who are renewing their visas. If an applicant meets specific criteria, such as renewing a visa of the same class that recently expired, they may be able to submit their documents for renewal without needing to attend an in-person interview, significantly speeding up their process.
