US visa expedited appointment pilot: $750 fee for faster B1/B2 interviews; Is India included in the list?

The U.S. Department of State has introduced a trial program enabling specific tourist and business visa applicants in select countries to pay an extra $750 fee for an accelerated visa interview appointment. Known as the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Expedited Appointment Pilot Program, the initiative launched on August 18, 2026, aims to assist applicants with time-sensitive travel requirements in securing an interview within 10 business days, contingent upon interview slot availability.

Under this program, eligible B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants can opt to pay an additional $750 on top of the standard $185 Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee. However, applicants must first complete the standard visa application process, pay the MRV fee, and schedule a regular interview appointment. If the expedited option is available at their designated location, they can subsequently request an earlier appointment. The $750 fee applies per appointment and per applicant.

The expedited process allows eligible applicants to schedule an interview within 10 business days, provided expedited appointments are available. Nevertheless, the program does not assure expedited processing or approval of the visa itself; applicants still undergo the same security screening and eligibility checks as other visa seekers.

India is not among the participating countries in the current phase of the pilot. The initial list of locations includes Canada (U.S. Embassy and all consulates), Colombia (Embassy in Bogota), Guatemala (Embassy in Guatemala City), Costa Rica (Embassy in San Jose), Honduras (Embassy in Tegucigalpa), and Mexico (Embassy and all consulates).

These locations commenced the program on July 21, 2026, and August 18, 2026, respectively. The Department of State has indicated that more locations might be added throughout the pilot period, which extends until December 31, 2026.

To utilize the $750 paid-expedite option, applicants must meet specific criteria: pay the standard MRV fee, schedule a regular visa interview, meet the program's eligibility requirements, log into their visa appointment account, select "Continue" → "Request Expedite" → "Paid Expedite" if the option is available, and pay the additional $750 within 10 minutes after selecting an expedited appointment. This option is only accessible where the program is operational and expedited slots are open.

It's important to note that the $750 fee does not guarantee a U.S. visa's issuance or expedited approval. The fee solely grants access to an earlier interview. Importantly, the fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, and applicants denied a visa are not refunded the $750. Additionally, missed or canceled paid-expedited appointments cannot be rescheduled, resulting in the forfeiture of the $750 fee.

For visa renewals, applicants qualifying for the interview-waiver process are ineligible to use the paid-expedite option, as the program is designed for applicants with scheduled interviews needing an earlier appointment opportunity.