The U.S. Department of State has introduced a new paid option that allows some business and tourist visa applicants to secure interview appointments sooner by paying an additional fee, marking a shift in how the government is attempting to address visa appointment delays.
The Nonimmigrant Visa Expedited Appointment Pilot Program, which took effect on July 1, 2026, gives eligible B-1/B-2 visa applicants at participating U.S. embassies and consulates the option to pay $750 for an interview appointment within 10 business days, subject to availability. The pilot will run through December 31, 2026.
The initiative is designed to help travelers with urgent business or personal travel needs while easing pressure on long visa interview wait times. Participation is entirely optional, and applicants who choose the expedited route will still be subject to the same screening, vetting, and eligibility standards as everyone else.
To qualify, applicants must first complete the standard visa application process by paying the $185 Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee and booking a regular interview appointment.
Those who meet the eligibility requirements and apply at participating locations may then see a “Paid Expedite” option in the appointment system. The additional $750 fee is separate from the regular visa application fee and must be paid within 10 minutes of selecting an available expedited appointment. Each participating consular post will release only a limited number of these priority interview slots each day.
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The State Department has also made it clear that expedited appointments come with strict conditions. Once confirmed, they cannot be rescheduled. Applicants who cancel or fail to attend their appointment will forfeit the expedited appointment fee, which is non-refundable and non-transferable.
The first U.S. diplomatic missions to implement the pilot were the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Mexico, which joined the program on July 21, 2026. More embassies and consulates could be added before the pilot concludes later this year.
While the program helps applicants obtain an earlier interview date, it does not provide any advantage during the visa decision process or reduce post-interview processing times.
“The program allows applicants to receive an earlier appointment only. Every U.S. visa applicant undergoes thorough screening and vetting, and we do not issue a visa until an applicant has demonstrated to the consular officer that he or she is eligible to receive a visa under U.S. law,” according to the State Department.
The department also emphasized that paying the additional fee does not improve an applicant’s chances of receiving a visa, accelerate administrative processing, or guarantee visa issuance. Every applicant must continue to satisfy all requirements under U.S. immigration law.
The pilot is expected to benefit companies, executives, and professionals who need to travel to the United States on short notice but have struggled with lengthy interview wait times. However, immigration experts say employers should carefully assess whether the additional cost is worthwhile, particularly when travel schedules are flexible.
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Because the program only advances the interview date, applicants could still face delays after the interview if their cases require administrative processing or additional security checks. Businesses weighing the option will need to consider the urgency of travel, the $750 per-person fee, and the possibility that visa issuance may still take longer than expected.
For organizations that regularly send employees to the United States, the pilot could serve as a practical option for urgent trips, though it is unlikely to replace the need for advance visa planning.
Key features of the pilot program
- Available only to eligible B-1/B-2 visa applicants at participating US embassies and consulates.
- Applicants must first pay the regular $185 MRV fee and schedule a standard visa interview.
- The expedited appointment costs an additional $750 per applicant.
- The fee provides access to an earlier interview appointment only.
- Visa adjudication, security screening, and eligibility requirements remain unchanged.
- Missing or cancelling an expedited appointment results in the loss of the additional fee.
- The pilot is scheduled to run through December 31, 2026, after which the State Department will decide whether to extend, modify, or end the program.