United States | New locations added to pilot program for paid expedited B visa interviews

On Aug. 18, the State Department updated its alert on the nonimmigrant visa expedited appointment pilot program, adding more visa processing locations to the list of U.S. Embassies and Consulates participating in the program.

Key takeaways:

Pilot program launched July 21. BAL previously reported that the pilot program launched on July 21, 2026, at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico. The program allows eligible B-1/B-2 visa applicants applying at the designated locations to pay an additional fee for an expedited interview appointment to be scheduled within 10 business days, subject to availability.

Additional participating locations launched Aug. 18. The five additional U.S. Embassies and Consulates participating in the pilot program all have launch dates of Aug. 18, 2026, and include:

• Mission Canada (Embassy and all consulates)
• Embassy Bogota
• Embassy Guatemala City
• Embassy San Jose
• Embassy Tegucigalpa

Additional information: The paid expedite pilot program was first announced on June 9, 2026, and is in place from July 1-Dec. 31, 2026. Participation does not guarantee visa issuance or expedited adjudication. All applicants are still subject to standard screening and eligibility requirements. FAQs with more details about the program can be found here.

Individuals should also check the State Department’s Visa Appointment Service page with their respective consulate locations before scheduling or attending a visa-related appointment.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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