# US Student Visa Fees for Indians (2026): What You Pay and How > The F, M and J visa fee is $185, paid in rupees through the U.S. Embassy's appointment system. How payment works in India, what else students pay, and what to avoid. _Published: 2026-10-23 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1090_ ## TL;DR Indian students on F, M or J visas pay the same $185 non-refundable application fee as tourists, paid in local currency through the embassy's appointment system. The SEVIS fee and any reciprocity fee are separate, and their amounts are not on the embassy pages, so check them before you pay. ## Key takeaways - F, M and J visas are in the $185 fee group, the same as B business/tourist visas. - The fee is non-refundable and payable in local currency by NEFT, UPI, debit or credit card, or cash at listed banks. - Your fee receipt is valid for 365 days. - SEVIS and reciprocity (issuance) fees apply where applicable; amounts are not on the embassy pages. - F, M and J applicants must set all social media accounts to public. **Indian students applying for an F (academic), M (vocational) or J (exchange) visa pay a non-refundable $185 visa application (MRV) fee, paid in rupees through the U.S. Embassy's appointment system. A SEVIS fee and any reciprocity fee are charged separately where applicable; their amounts are not on the embassy pages, so confirm them before paying.** ## Article That is the honest version of “US student visa fees in rupees”: the fee is set in dollars, you pay it in rupees, and the exact rupee figure is the one the payment system shows you on the day. Fees as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-10. For the wider process, from DS-160 to interview, see our US visa guide for Indian applicants. ### The $185 fee, and which student visas it covers The U.S. Embassy groups nonimmigrant visas by fee. All three student and exchange categories sit in the lowest group, alongside the B business/tourist visa: Fee groupVisa categoriesRelevant to students?$185B, C-1, D, F, I, J, M, T, TN/TDYes: F (academic), M (vocational), J (exchange visitors)$205CW, H, L, O, P, Q, RNo: work categories$265KNo: fiancé(e) or spouse of a U.S. citizen$315ENo: treaty trader or investorSo an engineering student on an F visa, a diploma student on an M visa and an exchange scholar on a J visa all pay the same $185, except J applicants in a U.S. Government-sponsored program, who pay no application fee. Each applicant's file needs its own MRV fee payment receipt, so budget the fee for every person who applies. ### How the dollar fee becomes a rupee payment The embassy states that the fee is payable in local currency. From India, the payment options listed are: - NEFT - UPI - Debit or credit card - Cash at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank and Citibank Because the fee is set in dollars, we are not quoting a rupee figure here. The rupee amount you owe is the one shown when you pay through the embassy appointment system's fee page; check it there on the day rather than relying on a number from a blog or a forum. Payment sits in the middle of the process: you complete the online Form DS-160 first, then pay the MRV fee, and then schedule your appointments online through the embassy's appointment system. Two rules matter once you have paid: - No refund. The fee is non-refundable, whatever the outcome. - 365-day receipt. Your fee payment is valid for 365 days from the date the receipt is issued, and you must schedule your appointment within that period; the interview itself may fall after it. ### Other charges students should budget for The $185 is not the only line. The embassy lists other fees that apply where relevant: - SEVIS fee: listed by the embassy as a separate fee. Its amount is not on the pages we checked, so confirm the current amount on the official fee information before you budget. - Reciprocity (issuance) fee: charged where applicable, on top of the application fee. Again, the amount is not listed on the embassy pages read. - No VFS charge: VFS Global does not handle US visas from India, so there is no VFS service fee in this process. There are also practical costs that are easy to forget: travel to a Visa Application Center for biometrics at least 2 business days before your interview, and then to the Embassy or Consulate for the interview itself. If the two are in a city far from home, that can mean two trips or a longer stay. ### Mistakes that waste the fee Since the money is non-refundable, the expensive errors are the ones that cost you an appointment: - Mismatched DS-160. The confirmation page you bring must carry the same barcode you used to book the appointment. - Social media left private. F, M and J applicants are among the categories told to set privacy on all social media accounts to public. - Old photo. The photo must be taken within the last six months and uploaded with the DS-160. If you are renewing, do not reuse the photo from your old visa. - Short passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your period of stay in the United States, unless exempt. - Expired receipt. A receipt older than 365 days is no longer valid. ### Where Indian students attend biometrics and the interview CityVisa Application Center (biometrics)Interview locationNew DelhiShivaji Stadium Metro StationU.S. Embassy, Shanti Path, Chanakya PuriMumbaiBandra Kurla ComplexConsulate General, C-49, G-Block, BKCChennaiNungambakkamConsulate General, Anna SalaiHyderabadHitec City Metro StationConsulate General, NanakramgudaKolkataMirza Ghalib StreetConsulate General, Ho Chi Minh SaraniOn the day, carry the DS-160 confirmation page, your passport, the fee payment receipt and any documents stated in your appointment letter. The appointment service says visa processing is typically seven to ten working days, though specific cases can take longer, and F and M visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days before the course start date. Appointment waits vary by post, so check current availability in the scheduling system before you plan your departure. ### A quick budget checklist for students - $185 MRV fee for each applicant, paid in rupees. - SEVIS fee, amount to be confirmed on the official fee information. - Reciprocity (issuance) fee, only if it applies to you. - Travel and stay for the biometrics visit and the interview, if they are not in your city. - One printed photo in case the DS-160 photo upload fails. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us. ### Frequently asked questions #### Is the US student visa fee the same as the tourist visa fee? Yes. F, M and J visas are in the same $185 fee group as the B business/tourist visa. Work categories such as H and L are in the $205 group. #### Can I get my US visa fee back if my F visa is refused? No. The visa application fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. Your receipt stays valid for 365 days from payment. #### Do US student visa applicants from India need an interview? The embassy describes a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Center and an in-person interview at the Embassy in New Delhi or a Consulate General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. The interview waiver it mentions is for previous B1/B2 visa holders, so check your options in the appointment system. #### Can I pay the US visa fee in cash in India? Cash is listed as a payment option at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank and Citibank. You can also pay by NEFT, UPI, or debit or credit card. ## FAQ ### Is the US student visa fee the same as the tourist visa fee? Yes. F, M and J visas are in the same $185 fee group as the B business/tourist visa. Work categories such as H and L are in the $205 group. ### Can I get my US visa fee back if my F visa is refused? No. The visa application fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. Your receipt stays valid for 365 days from payment. ### Do US student visa applicants from India need an interview? The embassy describes a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Center and an in-person interview at the Embassy in New Delhi or a Consulate General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. The interview waiver it mentions is for previous B1/B2 visa holders, so check your options in the appointment system. ### Can I pay the US visa fee in cash in India? Cash is listed as a payment option at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank and Citibank. You can also pay by NEFT, UPI, or debit or credit card. ## Sources 1. [U.S. Embassy India - Nonimmigrant Visas](https://in.usembassy.gov/nonimmigrant-visas/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India 2. [Embassy appointment portal - Pay your visa fees](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-3) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India 3. [U.S. Embassy India - Types of Visas](https://in.usembassy.gov/types-of-visas/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India 4. [Embassy appointment portal - Attend your interview (VAC locations)](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-5) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India