If you have been waiting months — or even over a year — for a U.S. tourist or business visa interview, the State Department has a new option for you. Starting July 1, 2026, eligible B-1/B-2 applicants at select U.S. embassies and consulates can pay an additional $750 fee to secure a visa interview within 10 business days, subject to availability.
The pilot program does not guarantee visa approval, and it does not change the required documentation or eligibility criteria. But for travelers with urgent business trips, weddings, medical appointments, or family emergencies, it could dramatically reduce the waiting period that has made the U.S. tourist visa one of the most challenging to obtain in the world.
What Is the State Department’s Expedited Visa Interview Pilot?
The State Department announced the expedited interview fee pilot in June 2026 as a market-based solution to chronic interview backlogs at U.S. embassies worldwide. The pilot is optional — applicants who cannot afford or choose not to pay the premium can still wait for a standard appointment at no extra charge.
Key details of the program:
| Feature | Standard Process | Expedited Pilot ($750 Fee) |
|---|---|---|
| Interview wait time | Varies widely — weeks to 18+ months depending on post | Within 10 business days (subject to availability) |
| Application fee (MRV) | $185 | $185 (same) |
| Expedite fee | $0 | $750 |
| Total cost | $185 | $935 |
| Affects approval decision? | N/A | No — purely for scheduling |
| Available visa types | All nonimmigrant | B-1/B-2 (tourist and business) only (pilot phase) |
| Program duration | Indefinite | July 1 – December 31, 2026 (pilot period) |
Who Is Eligible for the Expedited Interview?
The pilot is limited to B-1 (business visitor) and B-2 (tourist) visa applicants who have already paid the standard MRV fee and submitted their DS-160 application. Other nonimmigrant visa categories — such as F-1 student visas, H-1B, L-1, or J-1 — are not included in the pilot phase, though the State Department has indicated it may expand the program to additional visa categories if the pilot proves successful.
Eligibility criteria during the pilot:
✅ Must be applying for a B-1 or B-2 visa
✅ Must have a completed DS-160 application
✅ Must be applying at a participating U.S. embassy or consulate
✅ Must pay the full $750 expedited scheduling fee
❌ Prior visa refusals do not disqualify you from paying the fee
❌ The fee is non-refundable if your interview results in a denial
Which Embassies and Consulates Will Participate?
The State Department has not yet released the complete list of participating posts as of June 13, 2026. The pilot is expected to launch first at high-volume consular posts in countries where B-1/B-2 demand is highest and wait times are most severe. Historically, these include posts in:
| Country / Region | Key Posts | Typical Standard Wait (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana | 2–8 weeks |
| India | Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad | 3–12 months |
| Brazil | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília | 4–10 weeks |
| Philippines | Manila | 3–8 weeks |
| Colombia | Bogotá | 2–6 weeks |
Applicants should check travel.state.gov for the official list of participating posts once the pilot launches on July 1, 2026.
Is the $750 Expedited Fee Worth It?
The value of the fee depends entirely on your circumstances. Here is a cost-benefit breakdown:
| Scenario | Worth It? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Business trip with a hard deadline (contract signing, conference, board meeting) | ✅ Yes | Missing the trip likely costs far more than $750 |
| Family emergency (illness, surgery, funeral) | ✅ Yes | Time-critical; peace of mind has real value |
| Leisure travel with flexible dates | ❌ Probably not | Standard wait times at most posts are manageable if you plan ahead |
| Applying from a country with short standard wait times (e.g., UK, Germany, Japan) | ❌ No | Standard appointments may already be within 2–3 weeks |
| Applying from India or another high-demand country with 6+ month wait times | ✅ Yes | Saves months of waiting; enables meaningful trip planning |
How Does This Compare to Existing Expedite Requests?
Before this pilot, B-1/B-2 applicants could already request expedited interview appointments through the U.S. embassy’s existing expedite request process — for free. However, those free expedite requests require documenting a bona fide emergency (medical urgency, death of a family member, unforeseen business necessity) and are granted at the consulate’s discretion. Many applicants have found the process opaque and inconsistent.
The new $750 pilot creates a fee-based, no-questions-asked fast lane that is separate from the existing free emergency expedite system. Both options will remain available simultaneously — the paid pilot does not eliminate the free emergency expedite request process.
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More resources for B-1/B-2 and tourist visa applicants:
