US Paid Expedite Visa Appointment Pilot Expands to 6 Countries | India Not Included

The US State Department has expanded its Paid Expedite visa appointment pilot to six countries. Mexico launched the program on July 21, 2026, while Canada, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras were added on August 18, 2026. India is not included in the current pilot.

Eligible B1/B2 visa applicants in participating countries can pay $750 per person for an interview appointment within 10 business days, in addition to the standard $185 MRV fee. The expedited payment secures an earlier interview date only. It does not speed up visa processing after the interview or increase the chances of approval.

The $750 fee is non-refundable and non-transferable and applies separately to each applicant. For example, a family of four would pay $3,000 for the expedited appointments, in addition to the applicable standard MRV fees. If an expedited appointment is missed or cancelled, it cannot be rescheduled and the expedite fee is forfeited.

The pilot is scheduled to run through December 31, 2026, with additional locations possible. Indian travellers should note that India is not part of the current participating-country list.