The U.S. Department of State has launched a pilot program allowing certain visitor visa applicants to pay an additional $750 fee for an expedited visa interview appointment.

The Nonimmigrant Visa Expedited Appointment Pilot Program is being tested at select U.S. embassies and consulates through December 31, 2026. Participation is voluntary, and applicants may continue using the regular visa appointment process without paying the additional fee.

What Does the $750 Fee Provide?

Eligible applicants may pay $750 to schedule a visa interview within the next 10 business days, subject to appointment availability.

However, the fee only provides access to an earlier interview. It does not:

• Guarantee that a visa will be approved;
• Accelerate processing after the interview;
• Reduce the applicant’s eligibility requirements; or
• Exempt the applicant from security screening and vetting.

Applicants using the program must satisfy the same legal requirements and undergo the same screening as all other visa applicants.

Who Is Eligible?

The pilot program is currently limited to applicants seeking a B visa, which generally covers temporary travel for business or tourism.

To access the paid expedite option, an applicant must first:

1. Pay the regular $185 nonimmigrant visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee; and
2. Schedule a regular visa interview for a future date.

The applicant can then sign into the visa appointment account, select “Request Expedite,” and choose the “Paid Expedite” option. The option will only appear when:

• The program is available in that country;
• Expedited appointments remain available; and
• The applicant meets all eligibility requirements.

For one applicant, the regular $185 fee and the additional $750 expedite fee amount to $935 in total visa appointment fees.

Availability Is Limited

Participating embassies and consulates will make only a limited number of paid expedited appointments available each day.

When an expedited date and time appear in the scheduling system, the applicant must select the appointment and complete the $750 payment within 10 minutes. Otherwise, the appointment will not be secured.

The State Department may announce additional participating locations during the pilot period.

Where Is the Program Available?

The program launched at the U.S. Embassy and all U.S. consulates in Mexico on July 21, 2026.

As of the State Department’s July 22 announcement, Mexico was the only participating mission specifically identified. Additional locations may be added before the pilot ends.

The Fee Is Nonrefundable

Applicants should choose their expedited appointment carefully. Once the expedited appointment has been scheduled:

• The appointment date and time cannot be changed;
• Rescheduling is not permitted;
• Canceling the appointment results in forfeiture of the fee; and
• Missing the appointment also results in forfeiture of the fee.

The $750 fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable, including when the visa application is ultimately refused.

An applicant who misses the appointment may be able to schedule another regular appointment without paying another MRV fee if the original $185 fee was paid less than one year earlier. However, scheduling another paid expedited appointment requires paying another $750 fee.

The Bottom Line

The pilot program gives eligible business and tourist visa applicants a new way to obtain a visa interview within 10 business days by paying an additional $750 fee. It may be useful for travelers with urgent plans who do not qualify for a traditional emergency appointment.

Please be aware that availability is limited, the appointment cannot be rescheduled, the fee is nonrefundable, and paying it does not guarantee faster visa processing or approval. Applicants should therefore select a paid expedited appointment only when they are certain they can attend the scheduled interview.

For more information, please see the frequently asked questions below which are also available on the U.S. Department of State website.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. I need an earlier appointment for a tourist/business (B) visa but the reason I need to travel does not meet the emergency request criteria, what should I do?

You may be able to pay $750 to obtain an expedited appointment (this option is only available in certain countries and expedite appointments will only be offered if appointments are available) for tourist/business (B visa category) travel. To do so, you must first schedule a regular appointment. Then, sign-in to your account, click “Continue”, select “Request Expedite” and select “Paid Expedite” option.  The “Paid Expedite” option will only display if this option is available in the country where the appointment is being scheduled, and expedited appointments are available, and the applicant meets all of the eligibility criteria.

2. What is a “Paid Expedite” appointment?

A “Paid Expedite” appointment is an option where each applicant pays an additional fee (US $750) to be able to schedule an appointment for a B visa within the next 10 business days. The expedited appointment fee is separate from and in addition to the nonimmigrant visa (MRV) application fee.

Note: Applicants must have a regular appointment scheduled in the future and meet all qualifying criteria in order to access the “Paid Expedite” option. Payment of the expedited appointment fee does not guarantee visa issuance or expedited processing, it only provides an earlier appointment.

3. Who qualifies for a “Paid Expedite” appointment?

Applicants applying for a B visa with a future interview appointment scheduled will be able to see the “Paid Expedite” appointment option.

The “Paid Expedite” option is only available in certain countries. This option will not be displayed if it is not available in the country where the appointment is being scheduled.

4. What happens if I scheduled a “Paid Expedite” appointment and paid the fee and my visa is refused? 

The expedited appointment fee allows applicants to schedule a “Paid Expedite” appointment within the next 10 business days. It does NOT guarantee the issuance of a visa, it only provides an earlier appointment. The expedited appointment fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

5. I am applying with a group of applicants, do we each need to pay the Expedite Fee?

Yes, each applicant in the group must pay the expedited appointment fee.  However, the system will present the option to separate the group if you want to schedule a “Paid Expedite” appointment for only certain members of the group.

6. If I requested a regular emergency appointment but was refused, can I still pay the Expedite Fee and have an earlier appointment?  

Yes, applicants whose regular emergency visitor appointment request was denied can schedule a “Paid Expedite” appointment if they meet the eligibility criteria.

7. I am renewing a visa and I qualify for the interview waiver process; can I pay the Expedite Fee to have my application processed faster?

No.  Only applicants with scheduled interview appointments qualify to pay the expedited appointment fee and schedule an earlier appointment.

8. What happens if I pay the expedited appointment fee and I miss my “Paid Expedite” appointment?

“Paid Expedite” appointments can only be scheduled one time (rescheduling is not allowed) so be sure you select an appointment date and time that you can attend. If you miss your “Paid Expedite” appointment, you will forfeit the expedited appointment fee.  If your visa application (MRV) fee was paid less than one year ago, you may be able to reschedule into a regular appointment slot without paying an additional fee. If you would like to schedule another “Paid Expedite” appointment, you must pay another expedited appointment fee.

9. I purchased a “Paid Expedite” appointment and made an expedited appointment. Can I reschedule this appointment?  

No, “Paid Expedite” appointments can only be scheduled one time (rescheduling is not allowed). You should plan to attend the appointment you have already scheduled. If you cancel your “Paid Expedite” appointment, you will forfeit the expedited appointment fee.

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