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U.S. to offer $750 fast-track visa interview option
The new pilot program will allow certain visitor visa applicants to secure interview appointments within 10 days for an additional fee, a move that could affect thousands of Indian travelers facing long wait times.
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Ankita Baidya - Thu, 11, Jun 2026
- 05:55 EDT
- 65
Representative image / Pexels
The U.S. Department of State has announced a new pilot program that will allow certain visitor visa applicants to pay an additional $750 fee to secure expedited interview appointments, offering a potentially faster route for Indian travelers facing lengthy visa backlogs.
The program, which will run from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026, applies to applicants seeking B1/B2 visitor visas for business, tourism or medical travel. The fee is in addition to the existing $185 Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee, bringing the total cost of an expedited appointment to $935 per applicant. According to the State Department, applicants who pay the fee will be able to access available interview slots within 10 business days at participating embassies and consulates.
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The initiative comes as the United States prepares for a surge in international visitors ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Federal officials said the program is designed to test demand for a fee-based expedited appointment service while reducing the burden on existing emergency appointment systems.
For Indian travelers, the announcement could provide a new option for those seeking last-minute business travel, family visits, tourism or medical treatment in the United States. India remains one of the largest sources of U.S. visa applicants, and while wait times have improved significantly since the pandemic-era backlog, appointment delays continue to affect applicants at some locations during peak travel periods.
Under the pilot program, applicants must first complete the standard visa application process and schedule a regular interview appointment. They will then be given the option to select an earlier appointment, if available, by paying the additional expedite fee online. The State Department noted that expedited appointments will be offered only in limited numbers and are subject to embassy and consular capacity.
Officials emphasized that paying for an expedited appointment does not guarantee visa approval. Applicants will still be required to undergo the same interview process, eligibility checks, security vetting and any administrative processing that may be required. The fee only accelerates access to an interview slot and, where available, the return of an approved passport.
The State Department said the service would not replace existing no-cost expedited appointments available for humanitarian emergencies, urgent medical travel or cases deemed to be in the U.S. national interest. Those channels will remain available during the pilot period.
According to federal estimates, approximately 25,700 applicants are expected to purchase the expedited service annually, generating nearly $19.3 million in revenue. Officials said the fee reflects the government's estimated cost of managing the program and maintaining dedicated appointment capacity.
The announcement marks the latest change to U.S. visa policies under the Trump administration. In recent months, the administration has introduced a series of immigration and travel-related measures, including new visa bond requirements for certain nationalities and proposals affecting employment-based visa programs.
For Indian Americans with family members seeking to visit the United States, as well as Indian business travelers navigating time-sensitive trips, the new premium appointment option could provide a faster, though significantly more expensive, path to securing a visa interview.
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