The Current State of Visa Waits
Anyone who has tried to book a B-1/B-2 visitor visa interview in India knows the challenge. Wait times, while having improved from post-pandemic highs of over 800 days, can still be significant. As of August 2026, first-time applicants could face waits
ranging from four to 14 months depending on the consulate. For instance, Mumbai has shown wait times of around 420 days, while Kolkata has been significantly shorter at about 120 days for the same category. This variability and the sheer length of the delay have created a huge demand for any solution that might speed up the process, making any news of a shortcut immediately attractive.
What is the New $750 Option?
This is not a rumour or a third-party service; it's an official pilot program from the U.S. Department of State. Launched on July 1, 2026, and set to run until December 31, 2026, this program allows eligible B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visa applicants to pay an additional $750 fee for an expedited interview appointment. This fee is on top of the standard $185 visa application fee, bringing the total cost to $935 per applicant. The program's goal is to offer an interview slot within 10 business days, subject to availability at participating embassies and consulates.
The Fine Print: What $750 Buys You
It is crucial to understand what this premium fee does and does not do. Paying $750 only gets you an earlier interview date. It does not guarantee your visa will be approved, nor does it speed up the processing and adjudication that happens after your interview. Every applicant, whether they pay the premium fee or not, goes through the same security checks and eligibility reviews. If an application requires further administrative processing, it can still face significant delays regardless of how quickly the interview was scheduled. The State Department has been clear: this is a premium appointment service, not a fast-track visa approval system.
How to Access the Program
The process requires a few steps. First, an applicant must complete the standard process: fill out the DS-160 form, pay the non-refundable $185 MRV fee, and schedule a regular appointment, even if it's far in the future. Once that's done, you can log back into your appointment portal. If the consulate is a participating location and has slots available, a “Paid Expedite” option will appear. You can then select an appointment within 10 business days and will have a short window, often just 10 minutes, to pay the $750 fee online to secure the slot. It’s also important to note that these appointments, once booked, generally cannot be rescheduled, and missing one means forfeiting the fee.
Is It Available in India?
This is the most critical question for Indian applicants. As of the latest guidance in August 2026, the pilot program has been rolled out at U.S. missions in Canada, Mexico, and select posts in Central and South America. There has been no official announcement confirming its availability at the U.S. Embassy or Consulates in India. While the State Department has mentioned that additional locations may be added, applicants in India should not assume this option is currently available to them. Always check the official U.S. visa scheduling portal for the most accurate and current options for your location.
What About Regular Expedited Requests?
This new paid program does not replace the existing, no-cost method for requesting an emergency or expedited appointment. The traditional route remains available for genuine, unforeseen emergencies such as urgent medical treatment in the U.S., a death or funeral of an immediate family member, or time-sensitive business travel that cannot wait. To request this, you must still book a regular appointment first and then submit an expedited request through the portal with strong supporting documentation. Approval for these requests is not guaranteed and is based on strict criteria evaluated by the consulate.
