Effective Nov 2, 2009, $1 = Rs. 48

In order to get a non-immigrant U.S. visa, you will need to pay several fees. The Indian Rupee equivalent amount of application fee and issuance fee is subject to change depending on exchange rates.

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.

Fee is payable in cash or by Demand Draft (DD) or HDFC Bank Transfer Check. Credit cards or personal checks etc. are not accepted.

Demand Draft (DD):
You can get a locally payable DD from any Scheduled Commercial Bank (Nationalized or government, Private Sector or local branches of Foreign banks). It is not necessary to get the demand draft only from HDFC Bank. DDs issued by co-operative banks are not accepted. Write your name and the passport number at the back of each demand draft using only a pencil. If there are multiple fees, you will have to get separate DDs. 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.

Cash:
Cash to be deposited only in denominations of 100's and above.
Travel Agents / Bulk Applicants / Bearers payments can not make payment by cash.

The fees payable at the HDFC Bank per passport are:

1. Visa Application Fee (MRV Fee):
   The fee that the U.S. embassy/consulate charges when you apply for a nonimmigrant visa. $131 in Indian Rupee equivalent at consular rate of exchange should be paid. Rupee amount at current rate of exchange (Rs. 48) is Rs 6,288/-
   
   If paying by demand draft, make it payable to "US EMBASSY - VISA FEES".
   
   
2. VFS' Service Charge:
   Rs. 374/- which includes
   VFS' service charge Rs 359/-
   Bank service charge Rs 15/-
   All of the above charges are inclusive of service tax @ 10% and education cess @ 0.30%.
   
   If paying by demand draft, make it payable to "HDFC BANK A/C VFS".
   
   The VFS Service Charge covers administrative services and return by courier of passport with new visas.

The above fees are not refundable and must be paid by each applicant. Fee payment is also non-transferable, except with permission of the Embassy.

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

Before you can take a U.S. non-immigrant visa appointment, you will need to pay the appropriate fees listed here and obtain a Visa Fee Receipt from HDFC Bank. Either the applicant can go in person or can send the representative on his/her behalf.

When going to the HDFC Bank, you must carry with you a photocopy of the first page (bio-data page) of the applicant's passport. 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 a 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.

There are a total of 3 pages (in triplicate) in the deposit slip where you fill the details in. The top copy (white copy which is the HDFC copy) is retained by HDFC bank.

The bank will issue you a visa fee receipt in duplicable and it will have a 10 digit barcode number affixed on it. You will require this bar code number to schedule your interview appointment.

Acknowledgement copy is the blue copy. This copy need to be submitted to the Embasy/Consulate along with the visa application form and other required documents.
Sample Acknowledgement (Embassy) Copy

Applicant copy is the pink copy.
Sample Applicant Copy

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 lose your Visa Fee Receipt, you must pay the fees again and get a new receipt.

Tip: The fee receipt gets activated one working day from the date of issue. Do not attempt to take an appointment till then.

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, the 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
  

For L1 visa applicants, if applying with a blanket petition, a demand draft for Rs 24,000/- favoring "U.S. Embassy, New Delhi" or "U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai (or Chennai or Kolkata)" as applicable. 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.