NONIMMIGRANT VISAS

Visa Fees

Summary of Nonimmigrant Visa Fees:

Visa Application Fee*	Rs. 6,550	$ 131
VFS Service Charge	Rs. 381	NA
Visa Issuance Fee**	-	-
Blanket L-1 Visa Fee***	Rs. 25,000	$ 500

Consular Exchange Rate: Rs. 50 to $ 1

As of February 1, 2008, all applicants who paid their fees in 2007 for Rs. 4000 should bring a nonrefundable demand draft for the fee difference of $31.  The demand draft should be made payable to "U.S. Embassy New Delhi", "U.S. Consulate Mumbai", "U.S. Consulate Chennai", or "U.S. Consulate Kolkata".

Notes:

* This fee is also known as the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) Fee
** Not applicable to Indian and Bhutanese citizens and holders of the yellow Identity Certificate. Other nationalities: please click here to find out the Issuance Fee payable
*** Only applicable to Blanket L-1 principal applicants, not dependents

Nonimmigrant Visa Fees in More Detail

Visa Application Fee & VFS Service Charge

Before you can book a visa interview appointment online, you must go to a designated branch of the HDFC Bank and pay the Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge. When you have paid these fees, make sure you obtain a Visa Fee Receipt.

Fees & the Ways to Pay:

1.       Visa Application Fee: Rs. 6,550. At the HDFC Bank, this fee can be paid in cash or by Demand Draft/HDFC check that favors the “U.S. Embassy – Visa Fees”
2.       VFS Service Charge: Rs. 381. At the HDFC Bank, this fee can be paid in cash or by Demand Draft/HDFC Bank check that favors the “HDFC Bank a/c VFS”

Further Instructions & Information: 

• The Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge are nonrefundable and must be paid by each applicant
  
• When you go to a HDFC Bank, please bring your passport with you or a photocopy of the bio-data page of the applicant's passport if you are assisting an applicant
  
• Demand Drafts from co-operative banks will not be accepted
  
• Please write your complete name and passport number on the back of each Demand Draft
  
• The Visa Fee Receipt is activated two business days from date of issue. Do not attempt to take a visa interview appointment till then
  
• The Visa Fee Receipt from HDFC Bank can be used to make an appointment within one year from date of issue
  
• The Visa Fee Receipt is deemed utilized once the interview has taken place, and cannot be used to make a subsequent appointment
  
• If you lose your Visa Fee Receipt you must pay the fees again and get a new receipt
  
• The VFS Service Charge covers on-line or phone-in information, assistance with making appointments and return by courier of passports with new visas
  
• If you are an Indian or Bhutanese citizen resident in the U.S., to pay the Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge at the HDFC Bank and obtain a Visa Fee Receipt, please fax a copy of your passport’s bio-data page to the person assisting you in India or Bhutan. That person will have to submit the fax to a designated branch of the HDFC Bank, pay the Visa Application Fee and VFS Service Charge and obtain the Visa Fee Receipt
  

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Visa Issuance Fee   

After a consular officer has approved the issuance of a visa, you may have to pay a Visa Issuance Fee. Indian and Bhutanese citizens and holders of the yellow Identity Certificate are exempt from this fee. To find out if you must pay a Visa Issuance Fee and what it will cost, click here.

Fee & the Way to Pay: 

• Visa Issuance Fee: determined by nationality, click here. This fee can only be paid by a Demand Draft that favors the "U.S. Embassy, New Delhi", "U.S. Consulate General, Chennai", "U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata" or "U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai". All Demand Drafts should be in Indian Rupees. Conversion from U.S. Dollars to Rupees must be based on the Consular Exchange Rate

Further Instructions & Information: 

• You must bring the Demand Draft to your visa interview appointment
  
• Demand Drafts from cooperative banks will not be accepted
  
• Please write your complete name and passport number on the back of each Demand Draft
  
• If a visa is authorized the Visa Issuance Fee must be paid immediately at the consular section. If it is not paid, the visa will not be issued
  
• The Visa Issuance Fee is non-refundable once the visa has been issued
  
• If you are denied a visa, you can cancel the Demand Draft to reclaim the fee
  

Blanket L-1 Visa Fee

This fee covers the cost of a fraud prevention and detection investigation. All principal applicants for the L-1 visa who apply using a blanket petition must pay this fee. If your original L-1 visa has expired and you reapply under the same blanket petition the fee is charged again.

Fee & the Way to Pay:

• Blanket L-1 Visa Fee: Rs. 25,000. This fee can only be paid by a Demand Draft that favors the "U.S. Embassy, New Delhi", "U.S. Consulate General, Chennai", "U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata" or "U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai".

Further Instructions & Information: 

• The Blanket L-1 Visa Fee is not required for a spouse or child applying for a L-2 visa
  
• You must bring the Demand Draft to your visa interview appointment
  
• Demand Drafts from cooperative banks will not be accepted
  
• Please write your complete name and passport number on the back of the Demand Draft
  
• The Blanket L-1 Visa Fee is non-refundable
  

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