US State Department Launches Pilot for Expedited B1/B2 Visa Interviews in Mexico

Travellers seeking a US business or tourist visa may soon have the option to pay their way to an earlier interview appointment—but not to a faster visa decision. The US Department of State has launched a pilot programme that allows eligible B1/B2 visa applicants at select diplomatic missions to pay an additional $750 for an interview appointment within about 10 business days, subject to availability. The programme will run through December 31, 2026.

The department said the initiative is designed to help manage visa demand from applicants with urgent travel needs while maintaining the same security screening and eligibility standards required under US immigration law.

Under the pilot, eligible applicants applying for B visitor visas can choose to pay an additional $750 expedited appointment fee, over and above the standard $185 non-immigrant visa (MRV) fee.

The fee only provides access to an earlier interview appointment. It does not guarantee visa approval, faster processing after the interview, or different eligibility criteria.

"Applicants participating in the expedited appointment pilot program undergo the same rigorous screening and vetting, and must meet all eligibility requirements to qualify for a visa under U.S. law," the Department of State said.

The option is available to applicants applying for B1/B2 visitor visas who:

Are making a new appointment, or

Already have a scheduled interview with a valid, unexpired MRV fee receipt.

Applicants eligible for an interview waiver are not covered under the programme because they do not attend an in-person interview.

Applicants must first complete the normal visa appointment process by paying the $185 MRV fee and booking a regular interview.

If paid expedited appointments are available at that location, applicants can sign into their account, select "Request Expedite" and then choose the "Paid Expedite" option.

After selecting an available slot, applicants have 10 minutes to pay the $750 fee to secure the appointment.

Pilot locations will release only a limited number of expedited appointments each day.

The Department of State has imposed several restrictions on the programme.

The $750 fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Expedited appointments cannot be rescheduled.

Applicants who miss or cancel the appointment will lose the fee.

If they want another expedited appointment, they must pay the fee again.

Every applicant in a group must pay the expedited fee individually if they want an expedited appointment.

If a regular emergency appointment request has already been denied, eligible applicants may still choose the paid expedite option.

No.

The State Department has made it clear that the programme affects only interview scheduling.

Every applicant will continue to undergo the same screening, background checks and interview process as any other B visa applicant.

The department said paying the fee "does NOT guarantee the issuance of a visa, it only provides an earlier appointment."

The programme has so far been launched only at Mission Mexico, covering the US Embassy and all US consulates in Mexico.

The pilot went live on July 21, 2026.

The Department of State said additional embassies and consulates may join the programme before the pilot concludes on December 31, 2026.

For now, the paid expedite option is not available in India.

However, the Department of State has indicated that more locations may be added during the pilot period. If India is included later, eligible B1/B2 visa applicants could gain the option to pay for an earlier interview appointment, while continuing to undergo the same visa adjudication process as other applicants.