Quick Read
- The F-1 student visa MRV fee is $185, or Rs.17,649 at current rates.
- The SEVIS I-901 fee is a separate $350 charge for F and M students.
- Most Indian consulates have started collecting the new $250 Visa Integrity Fee.
- Total upfront visa cost for most 2027 applicants runs close to Rs.74,889.
- The MRV fee receipt stays valid for one year from the date of payment.
- Denied applicants do not pay the Visa Integrity Fee.
What Are the US Visa Fees in India for Students in 2027?
If you are applying for an F-1, M-1, or J-1 visa from India, the base US visa fee, known as the MRV fee, is $185. At the fixed rate used throughout this article, 1 USD equals Rs.95.40, so that works out to Rs.17,649. This is the fee you pay to the Department of State before you can book your visa interview, and it applies whether your visa is eventually approved or refused.
That number alone will not tell you what your 2027 visa actually costs. Indian students also pay a separate SEVIS fee to a different government agency, and as of 2026, most consulates in India have started applying a third charge, the Visa Integrity Fee. Counting only the MRV fee is the single most common budgeting mistake we see among students preparing for interviews this year.
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Counselor insight: Students who priced their visa at "around Rs.18,000" because that is what a friend paid in 2023 are consistently underbudgeting by more than Rs.50,000 once SEVIS and the Integrity Fee are added. Price your full visa cost the month you get your I-20, not the month you first researched the US.
US Visa Fees in India Comparison: MRV vs SEVIS vs Visa Integrity Fee
Every Indian student applying for an F-1 or M-1 visa in 2027 needs to track three separate charges, paid to two different systems, on two different timelines.
| Fee | Amount (USD) | Amount (INR at Rs.95.40) | When You Pay | Refundable If Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEVIS I-901 fee (F-1/M-1) | $350 | Rs.33,390 | Before DS-160 submission | No |
| SEVIS I-901 fee (J-1) | $220 | Rs.20,988 | Before DS-160 submission | No |
| MRV / DS-160 application fee | $185 | Rs.17,649 | Before booking interview | No |
| Visa Integrity Fee | $250 | Rs.23,850 | At visa issuance, not application | Not applicable, only charged on approval |
| Total (F-1, all three fees) | $785 | Rs.74,889 | Across the full process | Partial |
Exchange rate used throughout this article: 1 USD = Rs.95.40. Verify the current rate before finalising your budget, since it changes daily.
The SEVIS fee and MRV fee are both non-refundable and both due regardless of outcome. The Visa Integrity Fee works differently: because it is collected at issuance, you never pay it if your application is refused. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the fee was created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and is scheduled for annual inflation adjustment starting in fiscal year 2026.
Counselor insight: Students often ask if they can skip the Integrity Fee by paying the MRV fee early. They cannot. The Integrity Fee is tied to the moment your visa is stamped, not to when you submit your application, so timing your MRV payment earlier changes nothing about whether the Integrity Fee applies.
Is India Actually Collecting the US Visa Integrity Fee Right Now?
As of mid-2026, collection has begun at a growing number of posts, and reports from Indian applicants indicate the fee is now being applied at issuance at most of India's five visa-issuing posts. Rollout remains uneven, and no post publishes its collection status, so treat the $250 as a confirmed cost while verifying at your own consulate.
The fee was signed into law on July 4, 2025, but the Department of State and DHS required months of cross-agency coordination before consulates could actually process it. Rollout has been uneven, meaning some posts began collecting it before others. By the time you read this, it should be standard at Indian posts, but policy on a fee this new can still shift.
Counselor insight: Before you finalize your 2027 budget, check the current fee schedule on travel.state.gov the week before your interview, not the month before. This is genuinely one of the fastest-moving numbers in the entire visa process right now.
Documents You Need Before Paying Your US Visa Fees in India
You cannot pay the SEVIS fee without your Form I-20, and you cannot complete your DS-160 without your SEVIS receipt. Get these in the right order.
| Document | Where It Comes From | India-Specific Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-20 | Your US university, after you accept admission | Contains the SEVIS ID you need to pay the SEVIS fee |
| SEVIS fee receipt | fmjfee.com, after paying $350 | Print and carry to your interview, keep a digital copy too |
| DS-160 confirmation page | ceac.state.gov | Requires your SEVIS ID and passport details from your I-20 |
| MRV fee payment receipt | Paid via the official Indian bank/online portal linked from ustraveldocs.com | Payment accepted via UPI, net banking, or designated bank branches |
| Financial documents | Bank statements, loan sanction letter, sponsor ITRs | Indian consular officers commonly expect 6 months of statements plus the last 2-3 years of sponsor ITRs |
| Academic documents | Marksheets, provisional certificate, degree certificate | Original mark sheets from Class 10, 12, and any prior degree, not photocopies |
Counselor insight: The single most common last-minute panic we see is a student who paid the SEVIS fee correctly but entered their SEVIS ID incorrectly on the DS-160. Triple-check the ID against your I-20 before you submit, because a mismatch can delay your interview by weeks.
Which US Visa Fees in India Apply to You? A Decision Framework for Indian Students
If you are a final-year student graduating in May 2026 with a Fall 2027 offer already in hand, you have the most time. Pay your SEVIS fee within a week of receiving your I-20, and treat the full Rs.74,889 (SEVIS plus MRV plus the Integrity Fee, charged only on approval) as your baseline visa budget when you plan your education loan.
If you were refused a US visa in a previous cycle and are reapplying, you will pay the MRV fee again in full, but you may not need to repay the SEVIS fee. Under 8 CFR 214.14, if you reapply for the same visa status within 12 months of your denial and your SEVIS ID is unchanged, your original I-901 payment still counts. A new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID, or a gap of more than 12 months, means paying the $350 again. Budget Rs.17,649 for the MRV fee, and confirm your SEVIS ID on the new I-20 before assuming the old receipt carries over.
If you are the dependent spouse of an F-1 or J-1 visa holder applying for an F-2 or J-2 visa, you do not pay the SEVIS fee, but you do pay the MRV fee of Rs.17,649, and the Integrity Fee will apply on issuance in the same way it does for the primary applicant.
How to Pay US Visa Fees in India: Step by Step
- Receive your Form I-20 and locate your SEVIS ID in the top right corner.
- Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of $350 (Rs.33,390) at fmjfee.com using a credit card, and download your receipt.
- Complete the DS-160 form at ceac.state.gov using your SEVIS ID and I-20 details.
- Pay the MRV fee of $185 (Rs.17,649) through the payment portal linked from ustraveldocs.com, using net banking, UPI, or a designated bank branch.
- Use your MRV payment receipt number to book your visa interview slot at your chosen consulate.
- Attend your interview with all original documents, and if approved, the Visa Integrity Fee of $250 (Rs.23,850) is applied at issuance.
Note: Paying your fees early does not guarantee an early interview slot. Wait times vary sharply by consulate. Chennai has generally shown the shortest waits for both B1/B2 and student categories, while Mumbai and Kolkata have run considerably longer in recent cycles. New Delhi and Hyderabad typically sit in between. These numbers shift weekly as consulates add or reduce interview capacity, so treat any figure, including the ones in this article, as a starting point rather than a guarantee.
Counselor insight: If a payment fails but the amount is deducted from your account, do not repeat the payment immediately. Wait up to two business days for the system to reconcile, then check your receipt status before trying again. Duplicate payments are notoriously slow to refund.
What to Do When Your US Visa Fee Payment or Application Goes Wrong
If your visa is denied, you lose the MRV fee and SEVIS fee permanently, and you do not owe the integrity fee since it only applies on issuance. Review your visa rejection reasons carefully before reapplying, since a repeat application with the same weaknesses rarely succeeds.
If your MRV fee receipt expires before you can book an interview, you have one year from the date of payment to use it. After that, you must pay the fee again in full. Track this date the day you pay, not the day you remember to check.
If your SEVIS record shows as inactive at your interview, the consular officer can refuse your application on that basis alone, even if every other document is correct. This usually happens when payment was made too close to the interview date. Pay SEVIS at least two to three weeks ahead as a safety margin.
If you paid the wrong fee category, for example an MRV fee under a B1/B2 category when you meant to apply F-1, the fee is not transferable between categories. You will need to pay again under the correct category.
Prepare thoroughly with F1 visa interview questions and answers so a fee issue is not compounded by an unprepared interview.
3 Takeaways on US Visa Fees in India
Three things to take from this before you apply.
- First, budget the full Rs.74,889, not just the MRV fee, since SEVIS and the Visa Integrity Fee are both real, separate charges most students underestimate.
- Second, sequence your payments correctly: SEVIS before your DS-160, MRV before you book your interview.
- Third, confirm the Integrity Fee's collection status at your specific consulate the week before your interview, since this is one of the fastest-changing rules in the entire process right now.
Verified by: LeapScholar's US counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through F-1 and J-1 visa applications.
Have questions about US visa fees in India for your 2027 intake? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions About US Visa Fees in India
What payment methods are accepted for US visa fees in India?
The MRV fee can be paid through net banking, UPI, or in person at designated bank branches listed on ustraveldocs.com. The SEVIS fee is paid separately online by credit card at fmjfee.com. Cash payments at the consulate itself are not accepted for either fee.
Which Indian city has the shortest US visa interview wait in 2027?
Chennai has generally shown the shortest interview wait times among India's five visa-issuing posts in recent cycles, though this changes frequently. Always check the live wait-time tool on the US Embassy in India's site before assuming any city's numbers are current.
Do I need to pay the visa fee again if I reapply after a rejection?
Yes. There is no fee waiver or discount for reapplication. You will pay the full MRV fee and, if it is your first SEVIS payment in that program cycle, the SEVIS fee as well.
Can someone else pay my SEVIS fee for me?
Yes, a parent, sponsor, or agent can pay the SEVIS fee on your behalf as long as they have your correct SEVIS ID from your I-20. The payment receipt should list your name and SEVIS ID clearly, since that is what you present at your interview.
How long is the MRV fee receipt valid before I lose it?
Your MRV fee receipt is valid for exactly one year from the date of payment. You must schedule and complete your interview within that window, or the receipt expires and you will need to pay the fee again.
What happens to my visa fee if my application is rejected?
The MRV fee and SEVIS fee are both non-refundable regardless of the outcome. If you reapply, you must pay both fees again in full under a fresh DS-160. The Visa Integrity Fee is never charged on a denied application, since it only applies at issuance.
Do I have to pay the $250 Visa Integrity Fee as an Indian student?
Most Indian consulates have started collecting this fee as of 2026, and it applies to F-1, M-1, and J-1 students along with most other nonimmigrant categories. It is charged only at the point your visa is issued, so if your application is refused, you do not pay it.
Is the SEVIS fee different from the MRV fee?
Yes, they are two separate charges paid to two different systems. The SEVIS I-901 fee of $350 (Rs.33,390) is paid to the Department of Homeland Security through fmjfee.com and funds your student tracking record. The MRV fee of $185 (Rs.17,649) is paid separately to the Department of State to process your visa application.
How much is the US visa fee for students in India in 2027?
For an F-1 or M-1 visa, budget Rs.51,039 for the MRV and SEVIS fees combined before your interview, plus Rs.23,850 for the Visa Integrity Fee if your visa is approved. That brings the realistic total to Rs.74,889 at the current rate of 1 USD to Rs.95.40.
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