The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has launched a pilot program that, for an additional $750, allows applicants to receive an expedited B1/B2 visa appointment. This is welcomed worldwide because the embassy has faced significant delays across all visa categories, especially for regular tourist B1/B2 visas. In the UAE, applicants have been waiting months since last year.
In the new process, applicants can pay $750 for an expedited appointment within 10 days, but this does not affect the visa processing time, which remains standard.
The pilot will run in Mexico until 30 December. After reviewing the data, it will be decide which other visa categories will join the program in its second phase, slated for 2027.
Given the long wait times and high volume of applications in the UAE, extending this program there would greatly benefit residents seeking U.S. visas. The $750 fee is added to the standard $185 MRV fee for a B1/B2 visa application.