VISA SERVICES

Visa Fees

Effective Monday, November 2, 2009*
Current Consular Rate of Exchange – US $1.00 = INR 48.00

Description	US $		Indian Rupees
Visa Application Fee*	$131	=	INR 6,288.00
VFS Service Charge	N/A	=	INR 374.00
Visa Issuance Fee***	-	=	--
Blanket L-1 Visa Fee***	$500		Rs. 24, 000

*Note: Exchange rates are subject to change without notice

Notes:
* This fee is also known as the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) Fee
** Not applicable to Indian and Bhutanese citizens and holders of the yellow Identity Certificate. Other nationalities: please click here to find out the Issuance Fee payable
*** Only applicable to Blanket L-1 principal applicants, not dependents
Nonimmigrant Visa Fees in More Detail
Visa Application Fee & VFS Service Charge
Before you can book a visa interview appointment online, you must go to a designated branch of the HDFC Bank and pay the visa application fee and VFS service charge. When you have paid these fees, make sure you obtain a visa fee receipt.

Fees & the Ways to Pay:

1. Visa Application Fee:  Rs 6,288.  At the HDFC Bank, this fee can be paid in cash or by demand draft/HDFC check that favors the “U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad – Visa Fees”
2. VFS Service Charge: Rs. 374. At the HDFC Bank, this fee can be paid in cash or by demand draft/HDFC Bank check that favors the “HDFC Bank a/c VFS”

Further Instructions & Information: 

• The visa application fee and VFS service charge are nonrefundable and must be paid by each applicant
• Demand drafts from co-operative banks will not be accepted
• Please write your complete name and passport number on the back of each demand draft
• When you go to HDFC Bank, please bring your passport with you or a photocopy of the bio-data page of the applicant's passport if you are assisting an applicant
• The visa fee receipt is activated two business days from date of issue. Do not attempt to take a visa interview appointment till then
• The visa fee receipt from HDFC Bank can be used to make an appointment within one year from date of issue
• The visa fee receipt is deemed 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
• The VFS service charge covers on-line or phone-in information, assistance with making appointments and return by courier of passports with new visas
• If you are an Indian or Bhutanese citizen resident in the U.S., to pay the visa application fee and VFS service charge at the HDFC Bank and obtain a visa fee receipt, please 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 HDFC Bank, pay the visa application fee and VFS service charge and obtain the visa fee receipt.

Visa Issuance Fee   

After a consular officer has approved the issuance of a visa, you may have to pay a Visa Issuance Fee. Indian and Bhutanese citizens and holders of the yellow Identity Certificate are exempt from this fee. To find out if you must pay a Visa Issuance Fee and what it will cost, click here.

Fee & the Way to Pay: 

• The visa issuance fee is determined by nationality. This fee can only be paid by a demand draft that favors the “US Embassy – Visa Fees”. All demand drafts should be in Indian rupees. Conversion from U.S. dollars to rupees must be based on the consular exchange rate.

Further Instructions & Information: 

• You must bring the demand draft to your visa interview appointment
• Demand drafts from cooperative banks will not be accepted
• Please write your complete name and passport number on the back of each demand draft
• If a visa is authorized any visa issuance fee must be paid immediately at the consular section. If it is not paid, the visa will not be issued
• The visa issuance fee is non-refundable once the visa has been issued

Blanket L-1 Visa Fee

This fee covers the cost of a fraud prevention and detection investigation. All principal applicants for the L-1 visa who apply using a blanket petition must pay this fee. If your original L-1 visa has expired and you reapply under the same blanket petition the fee is charged again.

Fee & the Way to Pay:

• Blanket L-1 Visa Fee:  Rs. 24,000.   This fee can be paid by cash (U.S. dollars or Indian rupees) or by a demand draft that favors the "U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad".

Further Instructions & Information: 

• The Blanket L-1 visa fee is not required for a spouse or child applying for a L-2 visa
• You must bring the demand draft to your visa interview appointment
• Demand drafts from cooperative banks will not be accepted
• Please write your complete name and passport number on the back of the demand draft
• The Blanket L-1 visa fee is non-refundable