When you apply for a US visa, you will be required to pay a fee before filing your application in order to move forward with the process. This visa fee must be paid regardless of whether or not the visa is ultimately granted. The fee amount will depend upon the type of US visa that you are applying for.
Below is the current fee structure for non-immigrant US visas. All fees are non-refundable. The current consular US Dollar exchange rate is 1 USD = ₹ 84.00, valid through December 17, 2022.
| US Visa Type | Fees (USD) | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| All non-petition based USA visa applicants: Visitor Visa (B2 visa), Business Visa (B1), Student Visa (F1 visa), F2, J1, J2 M1, M2 | $185 | ₹ 15,540 |
| All petition based applicants (H, L, O, P, Q and R) and dependent visas | $205 | ₹ 17,220 |
| K Visa | $265 | ₹ 22,260 |
| E Visa | $315 | ₹ 26,460 |
Note
US consulate determines the visa fees in Indian Rupees. The exact fee equivalent in Indian Rupees (INR) is subject to change depending on currency exchange rates. Visit here for the most accurate fees and exchange rate.
Additional Fees for H and L Visa Categories
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India also collect an additional fee of $4,500 for certain H-1B and L-1A and L-1B petitions that fall under the provisions of Public Law 111-230. These additional fees apply to petitioners with more than 50 employees in the United States and with more than 50 percent of those employees in H-1B or L (including L-1A, L-1B, and L-2) status. This fee is in addition to the $500 Fraud Detection and Prevention fee and the MRV fee and applies in both first-time and renewal cases (unless further information indicates otherwise).
These conditions are employer-related. If your employer is subject to make such fee, your visa sponsoring employer should be providing you this information. Most companies with more than 50 H-1B visa employees do fall under this criteria.
The US Visa Application Fee is Non-refundable
All US visas are subject to approval after your visa interview. All fees must be paid prior to your application being filed. If your visa is refused, the visa application fee will not be refunded to you. If you want to re-apply you can do so, but must follow the process and resubmit a new application and pay another visa fee.
Where and How to Pay
As per the US visa service process in India, the US visa fee can be paid in following ways:
You must select any of the following options when using the US Visa Appointment System and make the your payment accordingly.
- Bank Electronic Payment via NEFT
Most banks in India support NEFT, or National Electronic Funds Transfer. You may pay your US visa fee using NEFT. Check with your bank for any additional applicable fees when using a NEFT service.
After logging into your profile, you will receive a unique account number to which you will send the NEFT payment. This unique account number is required to make your visa interview appointment. It is your responsibility to save this unique account number. If you lose it, you might not be able to schedule an appointment. - Mobile Payments (IMPS)
Applicants can also pay their US visa fees through their mobile phone using the IMPS system. However, the applicants must be pre-registered with their bank to complete payment via their mobile phone and also have a valid MPIN. Check with your bank for any additional applicable fees associated with a MPIN service.
IMPS payments can be initiated by either sending a text to the bank or via a mobile banking application. In order to avoid a delay in scheduling appointments for both your interview and fingerprinting, make sure to enter the exact amount as listed on the payment confirmation screen, and the correct Beneficiary Mobile Number and Beneficiary MMID number.
Once the payments have been settled, you will receive a text message with a 12-digit IMPS reference number. Use this IMPS number to schedule your interview appointment.
Applicants will be able to schedule their appointment within 3 hours of paying the visa fees via IMPS. - Over the Counter Cash Payment at CitiBank, AXIS Bank, or DRUK Bank
Your US visa fee can be paid at any Citibank or AXIS Bank branch in India or at the DRUK bank in Bhutan.
Note
Before going to the bank for a fee payment, you must obtain/print a US visa fee collection slip from your online application profile on the US Travel Doc website here.
Take the completed fee collection slip to the bank when you pay your fee. After receiving your payment, the bank will give you a receipt. The receipt number will be required to set up your visa interview online. Applicants are limited to the number of times they can reschedule their appointments. Please plan accordingly so that you are not required to pay another visa application fee.
Applicants will be able to schedule their appointment usually within the next business day after paying the visa fees at a AXIS, Citibank, or DRUK bank branch.
Note
- Your visa application fee is non-refundable and is non-transferable.
- You will receive a receipt after paying the application fee.
- This receipt is valid for one year from the date of payment and allows you to schedule your interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
- You must schedule your interview while the receipt is valid, which means your interview must be booked within one year of paying your fee. If you do not schedule an interview within a year of payment, your receipt will expire.
Non-immigrant Visa Issuance Fee (including border-crossing cards)
Applicants from certain countries may be required to pay a visa issuance fee after their application is approved. For citizens other than India, check the Visa Reciprocity Tables to find out the visa issuance fee amount owed, if applicable.
