1. What is the MRV Fee?
The MRV fee is what you pay for the people to look at your application and talk to you for the interview.The MRV fee covers the cost of doing these things for the MRV fee.
When you pay the MRV fee you get a receipt that's good for 365 days. You have to set up your interview with the MRV fee within that time.
If you do not do the interview for the MRV fee within 365 days you will not get your money back, for the MRV fee. The MRV fee is also not returned if they say no to your visa after you pay the MRV fee.
2026 Update: For B1/B2, F and J visas the base fee is $185, which's, around ₹15,500 to ₹16,000 depending on the exchange rate.
Note: There is a Visa Integrity Fee of $250 that may apply to some visa categories. You typically pay this fee when your visa is issued not when you make the MRV payment.
2. Latest Payment Methods in India for the year 2026
UPI is a way to pay. It is the method. You can use Google Pay or PhonePe. Bhim to scan a QR code and get near instant receipt activation.
There is also NEFT and IMPS. These are bank transfers. They take a little longer 2 to 5 business days to show up in the system.
You can also pay cash at the bank. For this you need to go to branches of Axis Bank or Citibank. Do not forget to bring a CGI Deposit Slip" that you can get from your profile.
Debit cards and Credit cards are also okay. They process the payment away.. Some cards, in India might need you to enable international transactions.
3. How to Secure Your MRV Fee Receipt
The receipt number is really important for the appointment calendar. If the system does not automatically link it you will have to enter the MRV Fee Receipt number You need to keep the MRV Fee Receipt number
When you make a payment for the MRV Fee do not close the window until you see the Transaction Success page for your MRV Fee payment. You should save this page as a PDF, for your MRV Fee Receipt.
The MRV Fee Receipt number is a 12-digit code. If you paid cash for the MRV Fee this 12-digit code is printed on the banks stamped counterfoil for your MRV Fee payment.
If you lose the MRV Fee Receipt you can log back into your portal. Go to the 'Payment History' section. Then look for the "Claim Receipt" or "View Receipt" option to get your MRV Fee Receipt again.
4. Important Rules to Remember
The thing to keep in mind is that fees are for one person only. You pay for yourself not for someone. You cannot use your payment for a friend or a family member.
The next important thing is to pay the amount of money for the type of visa you want. For example you need to pay 185 dollars for a B1 or B2 visa. You need to pay 205 dollars for an H or L visa that is based on a petition. If you pay the amount of money you might get a Locked Profile and then you will need to ask for help.
There are also rules, about rescheduling. Visa appointments can usually be rescheduled a times like two or three times before you need to pay the fee again.
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using an Old Deposit Slip: Each deposit slip has an expiration date, usually 3 days. If you do not pay within that time you need to generate an one. If you use a slip your payment may not go through properly.
Immediate Booking Attempts: If you make a payment using NEFT or Cash wait at 24 hours before trying to book a slot. The "Receipt Number Not Found" error usually happens because of a delay in syncing.
Closing the Browser Mid-Payment: Always wait for the page to redirect back, to the visa portal. This ensures that the payment is activated in your profile.
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