Travellers hunting for quicker access to a US visa interview have a new, pricier option on the table. Washington’s State Department has launched a pilot programme letting B1/B2 (business and tourist) visa applicants pay an extra $750 to jump the queue and land an interview slot within roughly 10 working days.
But if you’re applying out of India, don’t get your hopes up just yet — the country’s five consular posts aren’t part of the scheme for now. The Paid Expedite service, effective since July 1 and running through December 31, 2026, sits on top of the standard $185 MRV visa fee. It’s only for tourist and business travellers — H-1B, L-1, F-1, student and immigrant visa categories are excluded entirely.
The catch is that applicants must first book a regular interview appointment through the usual process before the paid expedite option even appears as a choice on the scheduling portal, and only where a consulate has switched it on.
That’s where India runs into a wall. New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata — the five posts handling the bulk of Indian visa demand — currently don’t show the $750 option at all.
The State Department hasn’t ruled out adding more locations before the pilot wraps up, but for now, Indian applicants are stuck with the existing routes: standard wait times or the Emergency Appointment process for those with genuine, documented urgent travel needs.It’s also worth being clear about what the fee actually buys.
Paying $750 doesn’t influence a consular officer’s decision, doesn’t bypass security screening or social media vetting, and doesn’t guarantee a visa. It only moves up the interview date. Miss the appointment or skip it, and the fee is gone for good — no refunds, no transfers.
Given India’s chronic visa appointment backlogs, the exclusion is likely to disappoint plenty of would-be applicants who’d happily pay a premium just to shave weeks off the wait. Until Washington expands the list of participating posts, though, the advice from immigration watchers is straightforward: keep applications strong, document genuine emergencies properly, and track travel.state.gov rather than relying on agents or social media chatter for updates.