US Visa Fees for Indians

About US Visa Fee

Any foreigner who needs a visa before visiting the US must pay the applicable visa fee. All visitors to the US, including children, must pay this visa fee.

Since the US visa fee is non-refundable, make sure to confirm whether or not you require a US visa. Some Indians don't need a visa or need to pay US visa fees, such as:

• Indians who already have a valid US visa
• Indians who are visiting the US under an A/G US visa
• Indians participating in a US government-sponsored program

How is the MRV Fee Different from the US Visa Fee?

Machine Readable Visa or MRV fee is another term used to refer to the US visa fee. This non-refundable and non-transferable fee is mandatory if you're applying for any non-immigrant US visas. Everyone who needs a visa to visit the US must pay the MRV fees as per their US visa type.

The non-immigrant visa application fee is valid for 365 days from the date of payment. You will get a receipt for your MRV fee payment. You must schedule your in-person US visa appointment within this period. If you're eligible for an interview waiver, then you must schedule it during this 365-day period.

Other than A or G visa types, all US visa applicants must pay the MRV fee. If you are applying for a J-type US Visa to participate in a USA government-sponsored program, you don't need to pay the MRV fee.

US Visa Fees for Indians

Indians can apply for several non-immigrant US visas depending on their eligibility and purpose of visiting America. Here are the visa fees for different non-immigrant US visa types: 

*As on 7th Februrary 2024, the consular exchange rate (1 USD = 84 INR). The final visa fee is subject to change as per the exchange rate and visa subcategory.

Please note that the US visa fee is non-refundable, irrespective of the visa category. Since the fees are considerably high, ensure that you meet all the requirements after understanding the US visa application procedure. 

The US has one of the highest visa rejection rates, so a visa delay or visa rejection is common. However, this could ruin your trip plans as well as a lot of money. With US travel insurance, you can avail the benefits of trip cancellation in case your trip is cancelled due to visa denials or refusal. Depending on the insurer, you will get reimbursed for several non-refundable expenses like unused flight tickets and hotel bookings.

US Visa Fee Payment Modes

There are several ways to pay your MRV fees for the US. You can pay US visa fees using any of the following options:

• National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) 
• Debit Card/ Credit Card
• Cash through specified bank branches

In a Nutshell,

All US visa applicants must pay their non-transferable and non-refundable visa application fee before applying for their non-immigrant US visa. This fee needs to be paid, even if you are issued a visa or not. To avoid any US visa rejections, make sure to understand the complete procedure. As you prepare to apply for your American visa, don't forget to buy a travel insurance plan for the US. It will save you from many exorbitant expenses in case of emergencies in the US.