NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington DC, July 24, 2026— The U.S. Department of State has launched a pilot program allowing certain applicants for visitor visas to pay an additional $750 for an expedited visa interview appointment, testing a premium service aimed at reducing long wait times at selected U.S. embassies and consulates.
The optional program, which began July 1 and is scheduled to run through December 31, 2026, applies only to B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visa applicants at participating diplomatic posts. Applicants who opt into the service and pay the additional fee may be able to secure an interview appointment within 10 business days, subject to availability.
The premium fee is in addition to the standard $185 nonimmigrant visa application fee, bringing the total cost to $935 for applicants who choose the expedited interview option.
State Department officials have emphasized that the program does not guarantee visa approval or faster visa processing after the interview. Consular officers will continue to adjudicate applications under the same eligibility standards, and applicants selected for additional administrative or security processing will not receive expedited treatment because they paid the premium fee.
The expedited appointment fee is non-refundable, and applicants who miss their scheduled interview will forfeit the payment. Each traveler, including members of the same family, must pay the fee individually if they wish to use the premium service.
The State Department has not released a comprehensive list of participating embassies and consulates. Instead, the pilot is being offered only at selected posts with the capacity to provide expedited appointments. Eligible applicants may see the premium appointment option when scheduling or managing their visa interview.
The pilot comes as the United States continues to address visa appointment backlogs that grew during the COVID-19 pandemic and have persisted at several high-demand consular posts. Officials say the program will help assess demand for a paid expedited appointment service while providing an option for travelers with urgent business or tourism needs.
For applicants in India, where U.S. visitor visa interview wait times have historically been among the longest in the world, the program could prove attractive if it becomes available at U.S. diplomatic missions there. However, the State Department has not confirmed that all U.S. embassies or consulates in India are participating in the pilot.
