Getting a US tourist or business visa appointment can involve a long wait.
Now, the US has introduced a new pilot program that could allow some applicants to get an earlier visa interview by paying an additional $750 fee.
Under the new system, eligible B-visa applicants may be offered an appointment within 10 business days.
But there is an important catch for Indian travellers: US embassies and consulates in India are not part of the pilot program at present.
How the $750 Expedited Appointment Works
Applicants cannot simply pay $750 and demand an early appointment.
First, they must complete the normal visa application process, including paying the regular $185 Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee.
Applicants who already have a future B-visa appointment may see a “Paid Expedite” option if their US embassy or consulate is participating and they qualify.
The expedited appointment costs $750 per applicant.
Only a limited number of such appointments will be released each day, and the appointment is expected to be available within 10 business days.
Once an applicant selects the expedited option, the $750 fee must be paid within 10 minutes to secure the slot.
There is another important condition: the appointment cannot be rescheduled. If the applicant cancels or misses it, the $750 fee is forfeited.
For families or groups travelling together, every applicant who needs an expedited appointment must pay the $750 fee.
Paying $750 Does Not Guarantee a US Visa
This is perhaps the most important point.
The new program is not a visa fast-track service.
Paying the extra $750 only helps eligible applicants get an earlier interview. It does not guarantee that the visa will be approved.
Applicants will still go through the usual security checks and must meet all the requirements for a US visa.
Even after the interview, paying the expedited fee does not guarantee faster visa processing.
The $750 fee is also non-refundable and non-transferable.
The program is mainly aimed at applicants who need to travel sooner but do not qualify for a regular emergency appointment.
What Does This Mean for Indian Travellers?
For Indian applicants, there is no immediate change.
The US Department of State’s initial list of pilot locations does not include any US embassy or consulate in India.
The participating locations currently include posts in countries such as Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras.
However, this could change.
The pilot program may be expanded to additional locations before it ends on December 31, 2026.
Until then, Indian applicants should continue following the regular US visa appointment process rather than assuming that the $750 expedited option is available in India.
If Indian posts are added later, the program could be useful for travellers facing long appointment waiting periods.
But even then, the extra payment would only provide an earlier appointment—not a guaranteed visa.
