US Visa MRV Fee: Complete Payment Guide 2026

Paying the MRV fee is one of the steps that causes the most confusion worldwide among applicants for a US non-immigrant visa. The official portal’s flow is not the most intuitive, payment methods vary from country to country, and the receipt issued does not always show the consulate’s name as the payee — which tends to alarm first-time applicants. This guide walks through the process from start to finish so that applicants from India, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, Nigeria, and any other country of origin can reach the scheduling stage without friction.

What Is the MRV Fee

MRV stands for Machine Readable Visa fee. It is the processing fee charged by the U.S. Department of State to every non-immigrant visa applicant, regardless of age, nationality, or the final outcome of the application. Infants, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors all pay the exact same amount, and the fee is non-refundable under any circumstances: a denied visa, a withdrawn application, a missed appointment, or a canceled trip will not result in a refund.

Without confirmed payment in the consular system, the applicant cannot schedule the biometric collection or the interview at the consular post. For this reason, paying the MRV fee is the first practical milestone in the process after submitting the DS-160 form.

MRV Fee Amount in 2026

Since June 2023, the Department of State updated its consular fee schedule, and the amounts remain in effect in 2026 for most of the most sought-after non-immigrant categories. The MRV fee for B-1, B-2, F-1, M-1, J-1, and C-1 visas is US$185 per applicant. Petition-based visas such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1, and Q-1 cost US$205, and treaty visas such as E-1 and E-2 are US$315. Payment is always made in local currency at the consular exchange rate for that day, generally slightly above the commercial rate.

Where to Pay: The Official Portal

MRV payments are handled through a global portal operated in partnership with the Department of State, with regional versions for each country. The base address is ais.usvisa-info.com, with a country-specific suffix for each consular market. Applicants can find the correct version through the website of the U.S. consulate in the country where they will apply.

No other channel collects the official fee. Websites that promise to speed up payment, generate alternative receipts, or unlock appointments outside the official system often embed service fees and do not replace the official portal. The risk of paying through the wrong channel is twofold: lost money and a stalled application.

Step-by-Step Payment Guide

Create your account on the portal

After accessing the regional portal, the applicant creates an account using a full name identical to the one on the passport, along with date of birth, passport number, and the confirmation number from the already-submitted DS-160. Any discrepancy between the portal data and the DS-160 may prevent service at the biometric collection appointment. Once the fee is paid, the applicant’s name is locked and cannot be changed.

Go to the payment section

With the account created, the applicant navigates to the MRV fee payment area. The system displays the applicant’s information, the amount in U.S. dollars, and the local currency equivalent at that day’s consular exchange rate. For group applications, such as a family applying together, all members are listed and the total amount is automatically summed for a single payment.

Choose your payment method

Payment methods vary significantly between countries and reflect the local financial ecosystem. On the Brazilian portal, for example, the applicant will find international credit card, a bank slip (boleto bancário) issued by a local partner bank, and, more recently, PIX. On the Indian portal, NEFT, IMPS, and debit card payments linked to the local network are accepted. On the Mexican portal, BBVA Bancomer with a payment reference is the predominant method. On the Nigerian portal, domestic bank transfers are used. The practical rule is that each regional portal lists the valid payment methods for that country, and trying to pay via a different method will stall the process.

International credit card payments, when accepted, typically unlock the appointment immediately. Bank slips, transfers, and payment references generally require 1 to 5 business days to clear. When the local portal offers an instant method such as PIX in Brazil or UPI in some markets, release happens within minutes.

Confirm and save your receipt

Before confirming, it is worth reviewing all the information on screen. After payment, the portal displays a confirmation, and the receipt should be saved: a screenshot, a PDF of the receipt, the bank’s payment confirmation, or a notification from a financial app. This document serves as proof that payment was made, in case the system takes time to reflect it.

Wait for your appointment slot to open

Once the payment is recognized by the consular system, the scheduling calendar automatically opens so the applicant can choose dates for the biometric collection and the consulate interview. The available window depends on demand at the consular post, which varies considerably between countries: markets such as India, Brazil, and Mexico tend to have longer queues, while consulates in European capitals offer slots that are much closer.

Why the Payment Recipient Is Not the Consulate

In many countries, applicants are surprised to find that the bank slip, transfer, or payment reference does not show the U.S. consulate as the payee. This is normal and occurs in nearly every market. Financial processing is outsourced to a company contracted by the Department of State, which forwards the funds to the consulate after clearing. The name of this company varies by country, and the document is legitimate as long as it was generated within the official portal.

Payment Validity

A paid MRV fee is valid for 365 days from the date of confirmation in the system. If the applicant does not schedule the interview within that period, the fee expires and a new payment is required to resume the process. The previous rule, which allowed 12 months counted from the payment date, was maintained after the 2023 adjustment — so those who plan carefully still have breathing room, but it is best not to wait until the last week, especially in markets with a saturated consular calendar.

Common Mistakes That Stall the Process

• Paying outside the official regional portal, misled by ads or intermediaries.
• Using a domestic debit card, a virtual card without international functionality, or a prepaid card on portals that require an international credit card.
• Letting the bank slip, payment reference, or transfer expire before paying and having to generate a new one.
• Paying twice in an attempt to speed up the process, creating a duplicate that the system does not resolve on its own.
• Not saving the receipt.
• Entering a name or passport number that differs from the DS-160, which invalidates service at the biometric appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay the MRV fee in installments? No. On all regional portals, payment is made in full with no installment option, regardless of the chosen method.

Is the fee refunded if the visa is denied? No. The MRV is a processing fee, not a guarantee of issuance. A denial, a withdrawal, a cancellation, or a missed appointment will not result in a refund.

Can I pay the fee for someone else? Yes, anyone can pay another person’s MRV fee by card, transfer, or bank reference. What is not permitted is transferring the fee between applicants, because each payment is tied to the applicant’s DS-160 confirmation number.

Can I pay the MRV in one country and have the interview in another? Each regional portal issues an MRV linked to the consular network of that country. Applying at a consular post outside one’s country of habitual residence is possible in some cases, but it requires confirming with the chosen consulate whether it accepts payment made in another market — and acceptance is not always guaranteed.

Paying the MRV fee is straightforward when the applicant follows the right channel: the official regional portal, information consistent with the DS-160, and a payment method listed by the system itself. Once payment is confirmed, the calendar opens and the process moves to the next stage: scheduling the biometric collection and the consular interview.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.