

2 min readNew DelhiAug 19, 2026 05:44 PM IST
The US State Department has expanded a pilot programme that allows some B-1 and B-2 visa applicants to pay an additional $750 for access to earlier interview appointments at participating US embassies and consulates. India is not among the locations currently included in the pilot.
In an update on the US State Department website, the government stated that under the pilot programme, applicants for B visas must follow the traditional process to pay the $185 MRV fee and schedule an interview appointment. Thereafter, pilot posts will allocate a limited number of appointments daily for the expedited appointment programme.
The applicants will be able to see if the expedited appointments, which are optional, are available and can schedule them after selecting an expedited appointment date and time. Thereafter, the applicant must pay the $750 fee within 10 minutes to secure the appointment. The department adds that the expedited appointment fee is non-refundable.
Who can use the $750 expedited service?
The pilot programme, which is currently underway till December 31, 2026, applies to applicants seeking B-1 and B-2 visa for tourist or business travel. The programme, however, allows an applicant to receive an earlier appointment only and doesn’t guarantee a visa automatically.
Among the Embassies and Consulates that are participating in the pilot programme are:
- Mission Canada (Embassy and all consulates)
- Embassy Bogota
- Embassy Guatemala City
- Embassy San Jose
- Embassy Tegucigalpa
- Mission Mexico (Embassy and all consulates)
The government added that additional pilot locations may be added on the State Department website throughout the pilot period; however, the availability of expedited appointments may be limited.
Is India included in the pilot programme?
No. India is not among the US diplomatic posts currently participating in the pilot. This means applicants applying through the US consular posts in Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Kolkata cannot currently use the $750 expedited appointment option.
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Indian applicants must therefore continue to use the regular B-1/B-2 visa appointment process unless the State Department adds Indian posts to the pilot later.
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