US visa interview in 10 days for $750 extra fee: What it means for Indians

3 min readUpdated: Jun 10, 2026 11:55 AM IST

The State Department is planning to initiate a pilot program that will allow applicants to register for the visa and schedule an appointment for an interview at select embassies within 10 days. (AI Generated Image)

Indians applying for US tourist and business visas could soon pay an additional $750 (around Rs 64,000) to secure faster visa appointments under a proposed “premium” service being piloted by the US State Department.

Cost structure and appointment scheduling

The State Department may introduce the service for international visitors, allowing business and tourist visa applicants to fast-track their interviews for an additional $750 on top of the standard $185 fee.

The State Department is planning to initiate a pilot program that will allow applicants to register for the visa and schedule an appointment for an interview at select embassies within 10 days.

According to an AP report citing internal documents and a State Department official, the pilot program is set to begin from July 1 to December 31. The move by President Donald Trump’s administration is being viewed as an attempt to relax some rigid conditions to enter the United States.

India is among the countries where applicants often face long wait times for B1/B2 visa interviews, making the pilot particularly relevant for Indian travellers.

The Cost India & Waits How It Works Fine Print Why Now

WHAT YOU PAY

A two-tier fee structure for a single visa interview

The State Department's new pilot adds an optional $750 premium on top of the existing $185 non-immigrant visa application fee. Together, they bring the total cost of securing a fast-track interview slot to $935 — roughly ₹80,000.

$185

Standard visa fee (existing)

$750

Premium add-on (new)

$935

Total cost (~₹80,000)

India & wait times →

INDIA CONTEXT

India is among the worst-hit countries for B1/B2 backlogs

For countries outside the US Visa Waiver Program — including India — wait times for a standard B1/B2 interview can stretch to several months or even over a year at some posts. The global median wait is about 30 days, but high-demand embassies like those in India skew far beyond that.

30 days

Global median wait time

12+ months

Wait at high-demand posts like India

✈

Not part of Visa Waiver Program

Indians must attend a consular interview for every B1/B2 application, unlike citizens of 42 Visa Waiver countries.

⏱

Premium buys speed, not certainty

The $750 guarantees an appointment slot within 10 business days — it does not change the screening process or approval odds.

How it works →

STEP BY STEP

Old process vs. new premium option

Under the standard process, applicants register, pay $185, and wait months for an available slot. The premium pilot adds a parallel track: pay an extra $750, and an appointment is scheduled within 10 business days at select embassies.

STEP 1 — ALL APPLICANTS

Register on the US visa portal and pay the standard $185 MRV fee.

STEP 2 — PREMIUM TRACK ONLY

Opt in to the premium add-on and pay an additional $750 expedite fee.

STEP 3 — WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAYS

Interview appointment confirmed at a participating embassy or consulate (locations to be announced before July 1).

STEP 4 — DECISION AS NORMAL

Consular officer evaluates the application under standard immigration rules. Premium status has no bearing on the outcome.

Fine print →

WHAT IT DOESN'T DO

Faster interview, but no guaranteed visa

The State Department has been explicit: the premium service is an "optional add-on" that fast-tracks an interview slot only. It does not bypass security checks, override eligibility requirements, or improve an applicant's chances of approval. The fee is also non-refundable if the appointment is missed or cancelled.

✗

No approval guarantee

Paying $750 does not improve your chances of being approved. The consular officer's decision is independent.

✗

Non-refundable if missed

The $750 fee is forfeited if the applicant cancels or misses the expedited appointment.

◎

Pilot window: July 1 – Dec 31, 2026

Available at select embassies only (list pending). Could be extended beyond December 2026 depending on demand.

◎

Existing crackdown stays in place

Separate Trump-era measures — including social media vetting and a $15,000 bond pilot for high-overstay countries — remain unaffected.

Why now →

TIMING

Two mega-events are driving the urgency

The pilot is not incidental — its July 1 launch is timed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, which will drive an exceptional surge in B1/B2 applications. Beyond that, the US is building towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, cementing long-term demand for a faster appointment pipeline.

2026

FIFA World Cup — US, Canada, Mexico

2028

Olympics & Paralympics — Los Angeles

"Now is the time to test the demand for and provision of a new fee-based expedited interview appointment service."

— US State Department, Federal Register notice, June 9, 2026

Sources: Associated Press · US Federal Register (June 9, 2026) · Business Today · VisasNews · Boundless

Background on stringent migration policies

Almost every form of migration for foreigners has faced a massive crackdown by the Trump administration, including demands for bonds of up to $15,000 to be paid for the processing of visa applications and social media accounts, which will also be vetted by the authorities before granting visas.

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Reports have suggested that new requirements by the Trump administration have caused delays in the processing of visas around the globe, with the complaint ratio rising.

Interview backlogs and no approval guarantees

For countries that are not part of the Visa Waiver Program, the wait time for scheduling visa interviews could be several months, if not less.

However, the department has clarified that opting for the “optional premium add-on service” for an expedited service will not guarantee that a visa will be issued to the applicant.

Rollout details and potential extensions

However, before the pilot program takes effect on July 1, the embassies and consulates where the expedited services for foreigners seeking tourist or business visas will be announced.

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The pilot program could even be extended beyond December 2026, depending on the demand, AP reported.

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