How to Pay US Visa Fee in India: Complete Expert Guide 2025

Written by

Mynaz Altaf

Fact check by

Shreya Pandey

Updated on

Aug 01,2025

How to Pay US Visa Fee in India: Complete Expert Guide - TerraTern

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You wonder how to pay US visa fee in India, and you have landed in the same place. This definitive guide to 2025 simplifies all the possible ways to pay, all the dates, all the problems, and official procedures you must go through to make your visa application procedure fast and trouble-free.

 

How to Pay US Visa Fee in India in 2025?

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How to pay US visa fee in India? One of the most critical and time-sensitive actions in your visa application procedure is paying a fee to the US visa office. This fee acknowledges your wish to apply and is one of the most vital requirements in gaining access to the following processes, i.e., booking a visa, an appointment, or your biometric test at the US Embassy or Consulate. Without a valid and activated payment receipt, you cannot proceed through the visa scheduling system, which will put your application process at a standstill. One should learn how to pay the fee correctly, which payment methods are used, the periods, the steps of activation, and so on. Strong knowledge will prevent most of the most frequent traps, such as the lack of time to activate payment, unsuccessful transactions, and losing your preferred interview dates. Making the right payments at the right time is the core of keeping your visa application on the right track.

Understanding Current US Visa Fees for Indian Applicants in 2025

How to pay US visa fee in India? It is always advisable to take time to ensure which kind of US visa you are applying for and note that each Visa will have varying fee structures, i.e., tourist, student, work, and immigrant visa. Being aware of the type of Visa you need and the payment amount will assist you in not making any mistakes in the payment, so that you will receive the correct number of MRV to create and not delay your appointment. It is always better to check the updated fee and exchange rate on the official portal to pay as much as required in INR.

Non-Immigrant Visa Fee Structure

How to pay US visa fee in India? Knowing the fee before you pay is necessary, as it is due to your visa category. The usual types of non-immigrant visas and the costs involved in US Dollars are as follows:

  • Tourist Visa (B1/B2): A business or tourism visa would set you back by $185. Individuals who go on a temporary visit, which may be due to tourism, a business meeting, or medical treatment, are granted this Visa.

  • Student Visas (F and M): Academic (F) and vocational (M) student visa fee amounts to $185 as well. Such visas can be used to study at an accredited institution in the United States.

  • Exchange Visitor Visa (J): Exchange visitors in the approved programs pay $185. This involves students, researchers, and practitioners dealing with cultural exchange.

  • Work Visas (H, L, O categories): Visas of the type of work that are related to work, like specialty occupations such as H-1B, intra-company transferees such as L, and those with extraordinary ability, such as O, are charged more at a fee of 205 and this is because the kind of visas are specialized.

  • Treaty Trader and Investor Visas (E1/E2): In the case of substantial trade or investment activities according to treaty agreements, the fee is $315, the most expensive of all other usual non-immigrants.

Also Read: Difference Between Tourist Visa and Visitor Visa

Immigrant and K Visa Costs

How to pay US visa fee in India? The fee structure of immigrant visas and fiancée visas (K) is different, and, as a result, a person has to scrutinize them:

  • K Visa: This Visa costs 265 dollars and must be paid by US citizens' fiancé (e)s. It allows the applicant to get into the US to get married and request to adjust the status.

  • Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee: Most immigrant visas have a processing fee that could reach up to $325, depending on the type and situation. This is the fee charged for the administrative practice of processing your application as a permanent resident.

  • USCIS Immigrant Fee: You must also pay a separate USCIS immigrant fee of $220 after your immigrant visa has been issued and before traveling to the US. The money is used to issue your green card.

All the fees are quoted in USD but paid in INR at the existing consular exchange rate at the time of payment. Get the correct amount of fees in Indian Rupees by using the USTravelDocs India Fee Calculator.

How to Pay Visa Fees for US Visa in India: Step-by-Step Process 2025: Updated

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So here is a step-by-step guide with a clear explanation of how to pay US visa fee in India, including registering on the official site, generating your unique payment receipt, and confirming successful payment activation. Strict adherence to these instructions will assist you in avoiding many of the pitfalls people experience, in suffering delays and loss because of not processing your payment within a specific time limit, and getting stuck in the latter parts of the visa process that include the scheduling of your appointment at the US Embassy or Consulate.

Creating Your CGI Federal Profile

How to pay US visa fee in India? Before you can finish paying your visa fee, you must create a profile on the official US visa application portal. Here is what you should do:

  • Access the authorized website at India's official site for US visa services.

  • Choose the type of Visa that suits your visa application, like a non-immigrant, immigrant, student visa, or a work visa. It is imperative to select the correct category to preclude mistakes in the future.

  • Ensure the email you provide is valid and that you check in frequently because all critical communication will be in the email.

  • Your entire name should be printed on your passport, along with your date of birth and passport number, the type of Visa, and other personal information. Ensure there are no typographies.

Generating Payment Receipt and Reference Numbers

How to pay US visa fee in India? After creating a profile, you will go to the payments part, where you will generate payment details for your fee:

  • Use your CGI Federal profile to enter the portal using the credentials you obtained during the registration process.

  • Go to the payment options tab, where you can choose your preferred mode of payment depending on the available options: NEFT, IMPS, cash payment, or the new UPI.

  • This will generate a Unique Beneficiary Code (UBC) and an MRV Number. You should enter these necessary reference figures to make your payment, and they should be utilized correctly.

  • Save/Print Customer-wise payment slip. Here, you can find valuable details of payments, and, if you choose offline payment within the selected banks, this slip should be provided.

 

Latest Available Payment Methods for US Visa Fees in India

There are several safe and convenient ways to know how to pay US visa fee in India. Classic bank transfers, cash at the branch, mobile banking systems IMPS and UPI, and credit card or online portal payments are available at a few consulates. Different payment methods have pros and cons, which depend on the speed of processing, availability, convenience, and the demand for technical expertise. Being aware of the advantages and shortcomings of each payment method, you can choose the one that will suit your situation most and guarantee a simple and easy-to-follow transaction with the activation of your visa fee receipt. This information will save you the other headaches of making payments and confidently approaching the whole visa application process.

NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer) Payment

How to pay US visa fee in India? A commonly used and preferred means to transfer payment to the US visas would be NEFT, a bank-to-bank transfer mechanism.

  • Make the transfer via your bank's online banking system or through its mobile application.

  • To ensure accuracy, use the beneficiary details on your payment slip.

  • The processing time typically lasts about 24 hours, after which the payment will be reflected and activated.

  • Make it a habit to retain the transaction receipt or confirmation till the conclusion of your visa process as proof of payment.

Pros:

  • Universal adoption by all the banks and the US visa system.

  • The dealings are safe and controlled by your bank.

Cons:

  • Payment activation can last up to 24 hours; keep this in mind.

Also Read: Top 10 Visa Rejected Reasons: Know Latest Changes

Cash Payments at Designated Banks

How to pay US visa fee in India? Alternatively, if you are comfortable making cash payments, the US visa fees are paid in branches of specific banks such as the Axis Bank and the Citibank.

  • The CGI Federal portal allows you to print your payment slip.

  • Go to the nearest banking institution, Axis Bank or Citibank, where they can process Visa payments.

  • You deposit the correct amount in Indian Rupees on your slip.

  • Cash in and take the receipt for the stamped payment to serve as evidence of your payment.

  • Activation occurs within a single working day, depending on the fixing day.

Pros:

  • A good choice of candidates who do not have access to online banking.

  • Straightforward procedure.

Cons:

  • Makes you go to the bank in person during working hours.

  • Dealing with cash entails small risks, like delays that banking queues can cause.

IMPS and Mobile Payment Options

How to pay US visa fee in India? The instant payment scheme is called IMPS and can be found in mobile banking applications.

  • Through your mobile application or your bank's internet banking, you can transfer funds through IMPS.

  • Type in the beneficiary address and your particular MRV number.

  • Payment activation is usually done within 1 to 3 hours.

  • Make sure you provide all details so that there are no delays.

Pros:

  • It can be transferred immediately, around the clock, even on holidays.

  • Flexible and quick, a good choice of applicants who prefer to be technology-savvy.

Cons:

  • Processing can be delayed owing to errors in MRV or beneficiary information.

UPI Integration (New in 2025)

How to pay US visa fee in India? Payments via UPI are also now being launched to pay the fees involved in the Visa using partner banks.

  • Pay the fee through the payment gateway that prompts you to enter UPI as a mode of payment.

  • Picture the QR code.

  • Security requires two-factor authentication (2FA).

Pros:

  • Quick and very convenient for its users who are used to UPI.

  • There is no need to hang onto long account numbers.

Cons:

  • It is only available at a small number of partner banks, so this is subject to availability.

Credit Card and Online Payment Solutions

How to pay US visa fee in India? Certain applicants can pay with credit cards through the online portal, which is subject to particular consulates.

  • It is mostly accepted in the US Consulate in Mumbai regarding certain types of visas.

  • The official online portal is where the payments are made safely.

  • The payment method should be noted, as the technique is not used to pay for all visa applications and categories. Before choosing this method, one should check the latest guidelines on the official site.

Current Payment Processing Timeline and Activation for USA Visa in 2025

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How to pay US visa fee in India? Without knowing when your money will be reflected, you cannot make proper plans for the visa appointment. All the payment options take their own time, which you must remember so as not to face any cancellation of payments or meeting problems:

  • NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer): Payment processing using this method typically takes 24 hours before it appears in the system.

  • Cash Payments: Normally released within one working day when you pay at specific bank branches.

  • IMPS (Immediate Payment Service): More immediate processing and payment is usually noted in 1-3 hours.

  • UPI (Unified Payments Interface): In case of an arrangement with your bank, transfers are usually observed on the same day, in some cases, almost immediately.

Do not make any visa appointment booking until the payment of your MRV receipt is completely activated in the system. Early booking might be inaccurate or even cancelled.

Latest Common Payment Issues and Troubleshooting: Experts Tips and Insights 2025

How to pay US visa fee in India? When things go bad and you face payment problems when making your US visa fee payments, it can be very frustrating and even slow down your visa application process. Nevertheless, a wide range of frequent issues are easy to detect and address through the appropriate action. Be it a failed transaction, the delay in the activation of the receipt, or wrong payment details, whichever the case may be, it will always help to know how to address these errors at the earliest, since this would save you a lot of stress and make your application work efficiently. The following is a guideline to identify common payment issues and their most effective solutions.

Failed Transaction Resolution

How to pay US visa fee in India? Payment failures may be frustrating and are often caused by mistakes that can be corrected quickly.

Reason:

  • During payment, the incorrect MRV number is entered.

  • A payment slip that has expired or is out of date

  • Any network or connectivity problem with the transaction

Fix:

  • Whenever you have errors and decide to repeat a payment, create a new payment slip to re-attempt the payment.

  • Cross-check the MRV number and the beneficiary details, and proceed with confirming payment.

  • In case one mode of payment does not work, then use another one, like moving out of NEFT to IMPS or cash payment.

Contact Support:

  • If the problems continue, email support with payment information, such as the transaction ID, to help.

Also Read: US Visitor Visa B1/B2

Receipt Activation Delays

How to pay US visa fee in India? Sometimes, your bank's payment receipt will fail to respond to activation of the payment after communication has been established.

  • It may take up to 48 hours to show and reflect in the system, more so in NEFT or cash payments.

  • Ensure that the receipt given for the transaction is precisely the same as the details of the MRV number and the person to whom you are paying on the payment slip.

In case it still fails to activate the receipt after a period of 48hours:

  • The helpline of USTRAVELDOCS is +91-120-4844644

  • To get more support and troubleshooting, check the USTRAVELDOCS Contact Page.

Exchange Rates and Fee Calculations in 2025

How to pay US visa fee in India? The US visa fees are fixed at US dollars (USD), although the payment must now be made in Indian rupee (INR) when paid in India. This implies that whatever you pay in INR will be subject to fluctuation of the current consular exchange rate at which you want to take the money.

Calculation Formula:

USD Visa Fee x a Present consulate trade fee = Complete INR Total

For example:

That is, assuming a visa fee of 185US dollars, and when the prevailing consular exchange is 87 Rs per 1USD (as of July 2025), this would mean that you pay:

(185*87) = 16,095

Currency can vary very often. To pay, it is essential to do the current consular exchange to ensure that you do not make a shortfall or have an excess payment. The current rates stipulated by the law are available on the US visa's payment portal of the US visa www.ustraveldocs.com/in.

Current Required Documents for Visa Fee Payment in 2025

How to pay US visa fee in India? You have a set of documents and information to prepare before you pay your US visa fee to make the process nonconductor. These things will come in handy so that you do not waste time or make any mistakes when making the payment:

  • Valid passport: Your current passport should be valid and ready so that you can enter your passport details when making a payment.

  • DS-160 Confirmation Page: This form confirms your visa application and is a must-have.

  • CGI Federal Account Password: The company username and CGI federal account password are on the official website, the online visa application, and the payment website.

  • Printed Payment Slip: This slip must be used to pay by cash at particular bank branches.

  • Bank D Credentials: Online banking information, such as the NEFT and IMPS or UPI account number and IFSC code.

  • Bank Account Mobile Number: You will need this to securely receive One-Time Passwords (OTPs) when you want to accept payments online or via mobile.

Latest Payment Security and Best Practices for USA Visa 2025

Money and a passport; How to Pay US Visa Fee in India - TerraTeRN

How to pay visa fees for US visa in India? These are the key security best practices to safeguard your payment and personal information during the transaction to pay the US visa fee:

  • Do not make any payment of the visa fees or any related activity through any source other than the official sites ustraveldocs.com. To avoid fraud, do not go through unofficial and third-party websites.

  • And do not use third-party agents and intermediaries to pay your money. Processing payments by using the official channels minimizes scams and mistakes.

  • Ensure that all online activities are transacted on trusted, secure networks. Entering corporate banking details on public Wi-Fi or unsecured networks is not good.

  • Add two-factor authentication (2FA) to your payment accounts and bank accounts. Such an additional layer of protection prevents illegal access.

  • Digital or print out copies of payment confirmations, screenshots, and receipts, and save them until the completion of the visa interview. The documents are used as evidence of payment in case of inconsistency.

Post-Payment Steps and Appointment Scheduling in 2025

How to pay visa fees for US visa in India? After the successful processing of your payment of the US visa fee, please proceed to the following crucial steps in your application process as directed below:

  • To log in, you must enter an email verified as one of your logins and enter your password. You can monitor your payment status and handle your visa application here.

  • Check your MRV payment acknowledgment in the system. Only upon activation can you book your visa appointment.

  • Make the appointment for your Visa at the OFSC (Offsite Facilitation Center) and the VAC (Visa Application Center). These are the necessary appointments to submit your biometric details and do the visa interview.

  • You need to be prepared before your interview for a visit visa, and this can be done by gathering all materials that may be required in your interview; for example, your passport, DS-160 confirmation, your payment receipt, and other supporting documents that may relate to your type of Visa.

We can fill up relatively fast regarding appointments, particularly during high travel periods. You should make your appointments immediately after payment has been confirmed and when the receipt is received to prevent a big time waste.

Also Read: Intracompany Transfer Visa USA

Latest Facts & News Section

  • Updated Payment Portal 2025: US Embassy India launched a new streamlined payment system on July 29, 2025

  • Exchange Rate Impact: The Current consular rate stands at $1 = Rs 87, affecting final payment amounts

  • Digital Payment Surge: 85% of applicants now use online methods over cash payments

  • Processing Time Reduction: NEFT payments now activate within 24 hours versus the previous 48-hour window

  • New UPI Integration: Selected banks now support UPI payments for visa fees

  • Mobile Payment Growth: IMPS transactions increased by 60% in 2025 for Visa payments

  • Security Enhancement: Two-factor authentication is mandatory for all online visa fee payments

 

Conclusion

Whenever you have plans to visit the US, the first thing you would want to know is how to pay US visa fee in India  2025. The system has now developed, starting with NEFT, and now UPI provides fast, secure, and flexible payments. Use this guide and select the option that best works for you. You must have an active receipt before making an appointment to get your Visa. Contact TerraTern for more information on how to pay US visa fee in India!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for US visa fee payment to activate in India?

The activation time depends on your chosen payment method. NEFT and cash payments usually take up to 24 hours or one working day, while IMPS and UPI payments typically activate within a few hours. Always wait for the MRV receipt to appear in your profile before attempting to book your appointment.

Can I pay US visa fees using UPI or mobile banking?

Yes, as of 2025, UPI payments are supported for visa fee payments through selected banks. You can also use IMPS via mobile banking for quick transfers. Make sure to enter the correct MRV number and beneficiary details to avoid payment failure.

What happens if my visa fee payment fails or gets rejected?

If your payment fails, it's usually due to incorrect details like MRV number or network issues. You’ll need to generate a new payment slip and try again using a supported method. Always keep your transaction receipt as proof for troubleshooting.

Is the US visa application fee refundable if visa is denied?

No, the US visa application fee (MRV fee) is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome. It only covers the processing of your application and not the approval. You will need to pay the fee again for any future applications.

Can someone else pay my US visa fee on my behalf?

Yes, a family member or third party can pay the visa fee on your behalf as long as the payment is made using the correct MRV number and applicant details. However, you are still responsible for tracking the payment status and ensuring the receipt is activated.