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Nonimmigrant Visas

Fees: Visa Application Fees and SEVIS

Summary of Nonimmigrant Visa Fees:

Visa Application Fee*
Rs. 6,288
$ 131 
VFS Service Charge
Rs. 374
  NA
Visa Issuance Fee**
      -
   -
Blanket L-1 Visa Fee***
Rs. 24,000
$ 500

Consular Exchange Rate: $1 = Rs 48
Effective date November 2, 2009

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

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. 6,288. 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. 374. 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

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. 24,000. This fee can only be paid by a Demand Draft in favor of the respective "U.S. Embassy, New Delhi", "U.S. Consulate General, Chennai", "U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata", "U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad" or "U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai" where the interview is scheduled.

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
  • The demand draft for New Delhi post should always be in favor of " U.S. Embassy, New Delhi" NOT "U.S. Consulate General, New Delhi"
  • Due to potential changes in the exchange rates, it is recommend that the demand drafts be made out as close to the appointment date as possible 
  • Please write your complete name and passport number on the back of the Demand Draft
  • The Blanket L-1 Visa Fee is non-refundable

SEVIS Fee

If you apply for a student or exchange visitor visa (F-1, M-1, and J-1 visas) in most cases you must pay the SEVIS fee (SEVIS I-901 fee). Payments and inquiries are handled by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) that is administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). For information about cost of the fee and the payment processes and options, visit the ICE website.

Further Instructions & Information:

  • Do not pay the SEVIS fee before you have a Form I-20 or DS-2019
  • Pay the SEVIS fee before your visa interview appointment. Do not leave payment of this fee to the last minute
  • Make sure you obtain a SEVIS fee payment receipt
  • You must bring the SEVIS fee payment receipt to your visa interview. You will need this proof of payment to obtain a student or exchange visitor visa
  • If you have a spouse or child who has F-2, M-2, or J-2 visa or is applying for one of these types of visas, they are not required pay the SEVIS fee
  • The SEVIS fee is non-refundable
  • If you have a question about SEVIS or the SEVIS fee, use the Frequently Asked Questions page provided by the ICE

SEVIS & SEVP
SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains data on foreign students and exchange visitors, as well as their dependents, before and during their stay in the U.S. It is a key part of Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) administered by the ICE within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The SEVIS fee financially supports the SEVP and SEVIS. For more information visit the ICE website.