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What is the Expedited Appointment Program?
The US Department of State has launched its own official program called the Expedited Appointment Program. For an additional fee of $750 — on top of the standard B1/B2 visa application fee of $185 — you can request a visa appointment within approximately 10 working days. This is not a third-party agent or a bot service. It comes directly from the US government.
Where is it available right now?
As of now, this program has not been launched in India. It is currently being piloted in Mexico, with the pilot running from July to December. During that period, it is expected to be gradually rolled out in other countries — including India. I know many of you have been waiting for exactly this kind of fast-track option, and I will share updates here as soon as there is news about the India launch.
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Book a Mock InterviewImportant things to know before you pay
Before you consider this route, there are a few critical points you need to keep in mind. First, paying $750 gets you an expedited appointment — it does not guarantee you the visa. The US Department of State is clear on this: even the appointment timeline is approximate, subject to availability and demand from other applicants making the same request.
Second, the $750 fee is completely non-refundable. Once you have paid, you also cannot reschedule the appointment. So only use this option if you have a genuine, urgent need to travel — whether that is for business, a family situation, or another personal reason.
How do you actually book it?
The process runs through the regular US visa portal. You first pay the standard visa fee as you normally would. After that, you will see an option to request an expedited appointment, and that is where you pay the additional $750. There is no separate portal or third-party system involved.
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