The paid queue-jump that arrived in July at US consulates comes with a deadline attached. The rule creating the $750 expedited B1/B2 interview is a temporary final rule, effective 1 July and expiring 31 December 2026 — and Indian posts are still outside the pilot.
In this guide3 sections
What the rule says#
Published in the Federal Register on 9 June 2026, it "temporarily amends the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (Schedule) to create a $750 fee for an expedited B1/B2, business and tourism, nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview appointment." The dates section is explicit: "This temporary final rule is effective July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026."
The State Department describes the service as "an optional premium addition to the standard NIV application fee", offered "only to applicants at limited posts as published on travel.state.gov and in limited quantities." Payment secures an interview within ten business days, subject to availability.
Why it matters to Indian applicants#
Because the pilot's whole point is queue length, and India has the longest queues in the programme's likely expansion list. Two things follow from the expiry date. First, if an Indian post is ever added, the window is now short — anything after 31 December needs a fresh rule. Second, any offer today of a "$750 government expedite" for an Indian applicant is fiction: the pilot is Mexico-only, and in an Indian profile the option does not render at all.
What actually works in India right now#
The free emergency-appointment request where travel is genuinely urgent, and watching for cancellations — the mechanics are in how slot drops work. Current queue lengths by city are in US visa wait time India, and the fee side, including what the $185 covers and what it does not, in US visa fees from India.
We will add a layered update to this note if the Department extends the rule or lists an Indian post.
VisaGyan is an independent journal, not affiliated with the US government or ustraveldocs. Verify options inside your own scheduling profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the $750 US expedited interview fee permanent?
- No. The rule that created it is a temporary final rule: "This temporary final rule is effective July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026." Unless the State Department extends or replaces it, the fee and the service lapse at the end of the year.
- Can Indian applicants pay $750 for a faster interview?
- Not as of 19 August 2026. The pilot runs at Mission Mexico only, and the State Department says further posts "may be announced" during the pilot period. No Indian post is listed, so the paid-expedite option does not appear in an Indian scheduling profile.
- What is the $750 on top of?
- The standard $185 MRV application fee. The rule describes the expedite as "an optional premium addition to the standard NIV application fee", offered at limited posts and in limited quantities; it is non-refundable and does not affect whether the visa is granted.