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USA Visa Fees
Effective Jun 1, 2009, $1 = Rs. 50

In order to get non-immigrant US visa, you will need to pay several fees. Fees have to be paid by separate Demand Drafts. DDs can be drawn on nationalized banks or local branches of foreign banks. DDs drawn on Co-operative Banks are not accepted. Credit cards or personal checks etc. are not accepted. The Indian Rupee equivalent amount of application fee and issuance fee is subject to change depending on exchange rates.

Please write your name, passport number, and date of birth on back of each demand draft using only a pencil. The demand draft must have its counter foil to prove that you have obtained it from the bank and not from the road guys. The counter foil is the receipt given by the bank when they issue the demand draft.

If you are an Indian citizen residing in the US, to obtain a Visa Fee Receipt from HDFC Bank, you need to fax a copy of your passport's bio-data page to the person assisting you in India. That person will have to submit the fax to HDFC Bank in order to get a Visa Fee issued.

These instructions are for visa applicants that need to go through VFS such as visitor visa, H/L visa, student visa etc.
For K and V visa where applicants directly go to the consulate, please click here.

Application Fee (MRV Fee) and Service Charge
Application Fee: The fee that the US embassy/consulate charges when you apply for a nonimmigrant visa. It is $131 and has to be paid in Rupee equivalent. This fee is non-refundable irrespective of whether visa is issued or not.

Service Charge: Outsourced application centers, like Visa Facilitation Services, charge an extra fee to cover administrative and courier services.

Before you can take a US non-immigrant visa appointment either online or any US Visa Application Center, you need to pay the following fees and obtain a Visa Fee Receipt from HDFC Bank.

When going to the HDFC Bank, you must carry with you your passport with you or a photocopy of the first page (bio-data page) of the applicant's passport, if you are assisting an applicant. Use the same passport that will be used at your interview. An applicant whose passport expires in the next 6 to 12 months is advised to obtain a new passport before purchasing a Visa Fee Receipt. If your passport is lost or expired, you will still have to book your appointment using your old passport number. At the time of your interview the new passport number will be updated in your record.

If you are a citizen of India or Bhutan but resident of the U.S., you can 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 the HDFC Bank, pay the fees and obtain the visa fee receipt.

The fees payable at the HDFC Bank per passport are:
  1. Visa Application Fee (MRV Fee): $131 in Indian Rupee equivalent at consular rate of exchange. Rupee amount at current rate of exchange (Rs. 50) is Rs 6,550/-

    This fee is payable in cash or by Demand Draft/HDFC Bank check favoring "US Embassy - Visa Fees". It is not necessary to get the demand draft only from the HDFC Bank. You can get it from any nationalized branch. Demand drafts issued by co-operative banks are not accepted. Write your name and the passport number on the back of each demand draft.

  2. VFS' Service Charge: Rs.374/- which includes VFS’ service charge Rs 359/- & Bank service charge Rs 15/- (inclusive of Service Tax @ 10% and Education Cess Tax @ 0.30%)

    This fee is payable in cash or by DD/HDFC Bank check favoring "HDFC Bank a/c VFS". It is not necessary to get the demand draft only from HDFC Bank. You can get it from any nationalized branch. DDs issued by co-operative banks are not accepted. Write your name and the passport number at the back of each demand draft.

    The VFS Service Charge covers on-line or phone-in information, assistance with making appointments and return by courier of passport with new visas.
Tip: The fee receipt gets activated 2 working days from date of issue. Do not attempt to take an appointment till then.

The above fees are not refundable and must be paid by each applicant. HDFC Bank's fee receipt can be used to make an appointment within 1 year from date of issue. The receipt is deemed as utilized once the interview has taken place, and cannot be used to make a subsequent appointment. If you loose your Visa Fee Receipt, you must pay the fees again and get a new receipt.

Other service charges
Fee for 221(g) cases = Rs.180/-
For sending more documents through VFS

Fee for Visa correction = Rs.359/-

All the above charges are inclusive of 10% service tax and 0.30% education cess.


For any clarifications you may write to HDFC Bank Ltd. at VisaFees@hdfcbank.com

Visa Issuance Fee
Issuance Fee: The Issuance Fee is based on the reciprocity, and differs by nationality of the applicant. This fee is refundable if the visa is refused. You need to carry the fee when you go for your visa interview.

For Indian and Bhutanese citizens and holders of the yellow Identity Certificate, visa issuance fee has been eliminated effective November 8, 2006. You just need to pay the initial visa application fee and the VFS service charge.

Issuance fee schedule for other countries

Furthermore, applicants applying for the following types of visas do not have to pay this fee for applicants from any country:
  • A-1: Diplomatic employees
  • A-2: Officials or employees of foreign governments
  • C-1: Transit Visa, for passing through at a US airport or seaport
  • C-1/D: Crewman
  • F1, F2, J1, J2, M1, M2: Students
  • G: Employees of international organizations who are representing foreign governments
  • T: Women and children who are in the United States because they are victims of human trafficking
L-1 applicant blanket application
For L1 visa applicants, if applying with a blanket petition, a demand draft for Rs 25,000/- favoring "U.S. Embassy, New Delhi" or "U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai (or Chennai or Kolkata)" as applicable. Demand drafts can be obtained from national or international banks in India. DDs drawn on co-operative banks are not accepted. This fee covers the cost of fraud prevention and detection investigation. If your original L-1 visa has expired and you reapply under the same blanket petition, the fee is charged again. The Blanket L-1 Visa Fee is not required for a spouse or child applying for a L-2 visa.

Depending upon the embassy/consulate you are visiting, make the demand drafts payable to
"U.S. Embassy, New Delhi" payable at New Delhi
"U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai" payable at Mumbai
"U.S. Consulate General, Chennai" payable at Chennai
"U.S. Consulate General, Chennai" payable at Hyderabad
"U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata" payable at Kolkata

Visa issued: You must pay the issuance immediate at the appropriate counter in the consulate/embassy. The visa will not be issued without this fee. Once the visa has been issued, the issuance fee is non-refundable.

Visa refused: Go to the bank where you purchased the demand draft to cancel and claim the money back.

FAQ
Q: What if I don't live in the place where designated HDFC bank branch is available? How do I pay the fees?
A: Unfortunately, the only option currently available is to pay the fees in designated HDFC bank branches. Either you or someone you know in the city where such branch is located can pay the fee. First page of passport is required to pay the fee.

Q: There is HDFC bank in my town, but it is not one of the designated HDFC bank branches. Can I pay the fee over there?
A: No. You have to pay only in designated HDFC bank branches.

Q: I am already in the US and going to India for visa stamping. How do I pay the fees? Can I pay the fee over there?
A: The procedure is same. You have to go in designated HDFC bank branches. You may ask, what if there is no one in India who can do this for me? Unfortunately, there is no other option.

Q: Can I pay the fee online usinga a credit card?
A: No. You have to pay only in person at designated HDFC bank branches.

Q: Can I mail the payment to one of the designated HDFC bank branches?
A: No. You have to pay only in person at designated HDFC bank branches.

Q: Do I have to buy the demand draft from designated HDFC branches only? Or can I get it from any nationalized bank?
A: You just have to submit the demand draft in designated HDFC bank branches. You can buy it from any nationalized bank.

Q: I have already paid Rs. 6,943 and got HDFC receipt prior to Jun 1, 2009. Do I have to get new receipt or do I get the refund?
A: No, they will be honored and you will not get any refund.

Q: I have already made the demand draft for Rs. 6,943 but have not taken the HDFC Fee Receipt. Will that demand draft be accepted because of $ rate change?
A: No, you need to cancel the demand draft and get a new one for Rs. 6,550.

Q: I had paid Rs. 381 for VFS service charge when I took the appointment months ago. Now that the service charge has changed to Rs. 374, what about the difference?
A: Those who have paid the VFS service charge before March 2, 2009 will not be affected by the change. They will neither receive the refund of Rs. 7.


Visitors Insurance USA

Visitors Insurance