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Last reviewed: August 29, 2026

How to Pay the U.S. Visa Fee in India

The DS-160 itself has no submission fee. Applicants in India pay the separate nonimmigrant visa application (MRV) fee through the official U.S. visa appointment service before an interview can be scheduled.

India is one of the largest sources of U.S. visa applicants in the world, and its payment system offers more methods than most countries — including instant UPI activation.

Payment methods in India

The official India payment options page currently lists:

  • UPI: pay from your smartphone via BHIM, Google Pay, or a QR-code scan from the payment confirmation screen. Instant activation — the fastest way to unlock scheduling.
  • NEFT bank transfer: the profile generates a unique account number; send the exact fee amount from an Indian bank account via internet or mobile banking. Activates within one business day.
  • RuPay debit or credit card: cards issued in India, paid online from the checkout page. Activates within one business day.
  • Cash at AXIS Bank or Citibank: print the fee collection slip from your profile, pay at a designated branch, and keep the receipt. You can schedule the following business day.
  • Cash at DRUK Bank (Bhutan): for applicants paying in Bhutan, in Ngultrums.

Official reference: the India bank and payment options page lists UPI, NEFT, RuPay cards, and AXIS/Citibank cash, and states activation can take up to one business day. Check the live page before paying.

Step-by-step payment process

  1. Submit the DS-160 and save the confirmation page.
  2. Create a profile on the official India visa service and choose Schedule Appointment.
  3. Continue until the payment confirmation screen shows your payment options and the exact rupee amount at the consular exchange rate.
  4. Pay once, with the exact amount, using one method. Save the receipt or transaction reference.
  5. Wait for activation (instant for UPI, up to one business day for NEFT and cards, next business day for bank cash).
  6. Return to the same profile to schedule your consular interview.

India-specific payment rules

  • The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, whether or not a visa is issued.
  • If a payment appears to fail, do not pay a second time. Email support-india@usvisascheduling.com and let them investigate — a duplicate payment is not refunded.
  • NEFT: do not pay from a co-operative or regional rural bank. ICICI Bank customers should select third-party account transfer. Delete the beneficiary account from your payee list after the payment succeeds.
  • NRI applicants: RBI guidelines prevent refunds of discrepant payments to NRI accounts — pay from an NRO account instead, and never send a "test" payment.
  • UPI: pay only through the payment page flow; do not send a plain bank-account transfer through a UPI app.
  • One payment per unique account number, for the exact visa fee amount.
  • F, M, and J students and exchange visitors also owe a separate SEVIS fee paid on fmjfee.com — the MRV payment does not cover it.

Interview activation times at a glance

| Payment method | When you can schedule | | --- | --- | | UPI / QR code | Instant | | NEFT | Within one business day | | RuPay card online | Within one business day | | AXIS Bank cash | Following business day | | DRUK Bank cash | Following business day |

Questions commonly searched in India

How much is the U.S. visa fee in rupees?

The fee is set in U.S. dollars — $185 for B visitor and F/M/J student visas, higher for petition-based work visas — and collected in INR at the consular exchange rate shown at checkout. Confirm the current amount on the Department of State fee schedule.

Can I pay the fee through Google Pay or PhonePe?

Yes — through the UPI option on the payment confirmation screen, which routes you to a payment page supporting BHIM, Google Pay, and QR codes. Do not send money as an ordinary UPI bank transfer outside that flow.

How long is my receipt valid?

An MRV fee receipt is normally valid for 365 days from payment. Schedule your appointment within that window (the interview itself can fall later).

I paid but the system still won't let me schedule. What now?

Allow the activation time for your method (up to one business day; next business day for bank cash). If it still doesn't appear, contact support-india@usvisascheduling.com with your payment reference. Do not pay again.

Can I use a fee paid in India for an interview in another country?

No. A fee paid through the India system is tied to applying in India. If you switch to another country, expect to create a profile in that country's system and pay again.

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