When applying for an H1B visa, there are several fees associated with this process. In order to schedule your US visa interview for your H1B visa, your fees must be paid. The fees can be paid either electronically as a bank transfer or in cash at a designated CitiBank or AXIS bank branch throughout India.
Here’s how to pay your H1B visa fee:
- Create a profile on the USTravelDocs website.
- Choose the Schedule Appointment option and answer prompts.
- Once you arrive at the payment confirmation screen, initiate payment.
- The fee is good for a year from the date of payment. You must make an appointment within a year of payment for your visa interview.
The following is the fee structure for non-immigrant visas. All fees are non-refundable. The current consular US Dollar exchange rate is 1 USD = ₹ 84.00, valid through December 17, 2022.
| Fee Type | Fee (USD) | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant Visa Application Fee | $205 | ₹ 17220 |
Additional Fees for H and L Visa Categories
Effective December 18, 2015, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India will begin collecting an additional fee of $4,500 for certain H-1B petitions and L-1A and L-1B petitions that fall under the provisions of Public Law 1141-230. 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 petitioners must submit the additional fees with an H-1B or L-1 petition filed:
- Initially to grant status to a nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (H)(i)(b) or (L) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act; or
- To obtain authorization for a nonimmigrant in such status to change employers.
This fee is in addition to the base processing fee, Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee, American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 fee (when required), as well as the premium processing fee, if applicable. Public Law 114-113 fees will remain effective through September 30, 2025.
These conditions are employer-related. If your employer is subject to make such fees, your visa-sponsoring employer should provide you with this information.
Where and How to Pay the Fee in India
You must select any one of the following options and make the payment accordingly:
Bank Electronic Payment via NEFT
Most banks in India support National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT). You may pay your US visa fee using NEFT. Check with your bank for any applicable fee for NEFT.
After logging into your profile, you will get a unique account number to which you will send the NEFT payment. This unique appointment 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
PaApplicants can pay their visitor visa fees through their mobile phones using the IMPS system. However, the applicants must be preregistered with their bank to complete payment via their mobile phone and also have a valid MPIN. Check with your bank for any applicable fee associated with MPIN service.
IMPS payments can be initiated by either sending a text to the bank or via mobile banking application. In order to avoid a delay in scheduling appointments for both interview and fingerprinting, make sure to enter the exact amount as listed on the payment confirmation screen, and 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 appointments.
Applicants should be able to schedule their appointment within 3 hours of paying their H1B visa fees via IMPS System.
3 Over the Counter Cash Payment at CitiBank or AXIS Bank
Your H1B visa fee can also be paid at a designated Citibank or AXIS Bank branch in India.
Note
Before going to the bank for fee payment, you must obtain/print a US visa fee collection slip, from your online application profile and bring it with you.
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 setup 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.
Your payment receipt will be activated for scheduling a visa interview typically within the next business day of paying your visa application fee at a AXIS/Citibank branch.
Note
Your H1B visa application fee is non-refundable and you cannot transfer it to another person.
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 after which it expires.
Non-immigrant Visa Issuance Fee (including border-crossing cards)
For citizens of countries other than India, check the Visa Reciprocity Tables to find the visa issuance fee amount you need to pay, if applicable.
