US Visa Fees for Indians in 2026: MRV Fee, Exchange Rate and Extras

The figures below come from the U.S. Embassy and its official appointment service, ustraveldocs.com, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. The Embassy publishes the MRV fee in dollars and the exchange rate separately; it does not publish a fixed rupee amount for each visa.

What is the MRV fee for each US visa category?

Every MRV fee is non-refundable. Pay for the category you are actually applying in: an H-1B applicant pays the $205 fee, not the $185 visitor fee.

How much is the US visa fee in rupees?

The fee is payable in Indian rupees at the Consular Exchange Rate. The U.S. Embassy set that rate at INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026; it was INR 96 before. The rate published in October 2026 is still INR 98, but it changes with the market, so the rupee amount you pay is the dollar fee multiplied by the rate in force on the day you pay.

Two practical points follow. First, check the rate on the payment page just before paying rather than relying on an older rupee figure. Second, the same consular rate applies whichever payment method you choose; only NEFT may add a bank charge.

How do you pay in India, and when can you book?

The official appointment service accepts payment by NEFT, UPI, debit or credit card, or cash at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank and Citibank. Banks may charge for NEFT payments. How quickly you can book the interview depends on the method:

The payment is valid for 365 days from the receipt date. You must schedule your appointment within that period, but the interview or Visa Application Center appointment itself does not have to take place within it.

Which extra fees apply to students, exchange visitors and workers?

• SEVIS I-901 fee, F and M students: $350, paid to the Department of Homeland Security (ICE) before the interview. Bring the receipt.
• SEVIS I-901 fee, J exchange visitors: $220; special subsidised J categories pay $35 and government visitors $0.
• Blanket L-1 Fraud Prevention and Detection fee: $500 for first-time principal applicants under a blanket L petition, paid at the consular cashier on interview day by demand draft, Visa or MasterCard credit card, or cash in INR or USD. L-2 dependants are exempt.
• Blanket L-1 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit fee: $4,500, only where the petitioner has more than 50 US employees and more than 50% of them are in H-1B or L status.
• H-1B payment for workers outside the US: $100,000, paid by the employer with the petition under Presidential Proclamation 10973 (from 21 September 2025), renewed by Proclamation 11069 from 21 September 2026 for 12 months, unless DHS grants a national-interest exception. It is not a visa application fee.

Reciprocity (issuance) fees may also apply to some visa classes. Their amounts for Indian nationals are published by the State Department and were not part of the sources we checked, so confirm them before your interview.

Is there a fee for a faster appointment or passport delivery?

From 1 July to 31 December 2026, the State Department is piloting an optional $750 fee for an expedited B1/B2 interview appointment within ten business days, paid on top of the $185 MRV fee (Federal Register notice). It is offered only at limited posts listed on travel.state.gov, and we could not verify whether Indian posts take part. It does not speed up processing or guarantee a visa.

The appointment service also lists two optional charges in India:

• Premium passport delivery to your home or office, or Premium Hold for Collection: INR 1,500 per passport including taxes, paid in cash on delivery.
• Interview-waiver document drop-off at a location other than the VACs in the five Embassy and Consulate cities: INR 1,500 per passport; drop-off at those VACs is free.

Who pays nothing, and what if your visa is refused?

Official and diplomatic travellers are generally exempt: A or G visas for official travel and J visas for US Government-sponsored programmes do not pay the application fee. Everyone else pays, and the MRV fee is not returned if the visa is refused. Plan your timing to avoid paying twice: the Embassy advises applying at least three months before travel and not buying tickets until the visa is issued. After the interview, most nonimmigrant visas are typically processed in 7-10 working days, though individual cases may take longer.

For the full application process and document list, see our US visa guide for Indians.

Since the Embassy advises against buying tickets before the visa is issued, a flight reservation and itinerary are useful for planning your DS-160 travel details. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is the US visa fee refunded if my visa is refused?

No. The U.S. Embassy lists every MRV fee as non-refundable, whatever the outcome of the application.

Is there a VFS Global fee for US visas in India?

No. VFS Global does not handle US visas from India. The official appointment service, ustraveldocs.com, lists only the government visa fees plus optional charges such as premium passport delivery at INR 1,500 per passport.

Where do I go after paying the US visa fee?

You book a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Center at least 2 business days before an interview at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. Anyone legally present in India may apply at any of the five posts.

Can I pay the US visa fee in cash in India?

Yes. Cash is accepted at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank and Citibank. After a cash payment at AXIS or DRUK Bank, you can book your appointment from the following business day.