US Business Visa Fees from India 2026: Complete B1/B2 Cost Guide & Payment Process

US Business Visa Fees: Complete Cost Breakdown for Indian Applicants

Budgeting for a US B-1/B-2 visa from India in 2026 involves more moving parts than it did a year ago. A new legislative fee has entered the picture alongside the familiar government application charge, interview wait times at Indian consular posts continue to stretch into months, and payment rules have shifted. This guide covers every verified cost and process step so you can plan your application with realistic numbers.

The B-1/B-2 visa covers business visits (B-1) and tourism or family visits (B-2). Most Indian applicants apply for the combined B-1/B-2 category, which carries a single application fee and, when issued, is typically listed for multiple entries with a validity of 120 months — ten years. Each visit can last up to roughly six months, though the exact duration is decided by the Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry and recorded on your I-94, not by the visa's printed expiry date.

For 2026, the two headline government costs are a USD 185 Machine-Readable Visa application fee and a new USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee created by federal legislation signed on July 4, 2025. Understanding when each fee is due — and whether the second fee is actually being collected at your chosen consular post — is the essential first step in any realistic budget.

• MRV application fee — USD 185, paid before scheduling, non-refundable
• Visa Integrity Fee — USD 250, collected at the time of visa issuance where applicable
• DS-160 online application — no charge, filed at ceac.state.gov
• Visarun platform service fee — USD 20, applied on top of the USD 185 MRV fee if using Visarun

Complete Fee Breakdown: Every Dollar Accounted For

The MRV Application Fee

Reports suggest the MRV fee stands at USD 185 and is non-refundable regardless of whether a visa is approved, refused, or withdrawn. You pay this before your interview appointment is scheduled, not on the day you attend. The receipt is typically valid for 365 days from payment, meaning you must schedule and attend your interview within that window or risk having to pay again.

In Indian rupees, the amount you actually transfer depends on the consular exchange rate in force on the day you pay. As of March 2026, exchange rates vary, and one aggregator placed the INR equivalent at roughly ₹15,350, while a separate fee guide quoted the same USD 185 at around ₹16,368 — reports suggest the rate may vary. The official India visa scheduling portal warns that the consular rate may change after its expiration date, so applicants should verify the current INR amount on ustraveldocs.com before completing any bank transfer, as of the last verified update on ustraveldocs.com.

The Visa Integrity Fee

The USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025. Unlike the MRV fee, this charge is collected at the time a visa is issued, not when the application is submitted. The embassy or consulate collects it directly rather than through the DS-160 or MRV payment stage.

Implementation across consular posts has been uneven. As of March 2026, the fee had been signed into law but was not yet being collected by US consulates. One legal-services tracker noted that not all US consulates were charging the fee yet as of mid-2026, and advised applicants to confirm with their specific embassy before their appointment. A university international office reported in May 2026 that some consular posts had begun collecting the USD 250 charge in addition to the USD 185 MRV fee. Whether all five Indian posts — New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata — are consistently enforcing it as of September 2026 has not been officially confirmed on the US Mission India website, so checking directly with your consulate before attending is advisable.

Reports suggest the Visa Integrity Fee cannot be waived or reduced, and DHS has not yet finalized the refund process for travellers who comply with all visa terms. Visa Waiver Program travellers and immigrant visa applicants are exempt, but B-1/B-2 applicants are not. For a self-sponsored visit visa such as the B-2, the applicant pays this fee directly.

Reciprocity Fee

Some countries face a reciprocity fee on top of the MRV charge, based on what their own government levies on US citizens for equivalent visas. The US Department of State reciprocity schedule for India lists the B-1/B-2 issuance fee as zero, with multiple entries and 120 months of validity, so no reciprocity fee applies on top of the MRV fee; the schedule can be updated, so a quick check before applying is still sensible.

What Visarun Charges

Visarun's automated US visa service for Indian citizens is priced at a total of USD 205, comprising the USD 185 government MRV fee plus a USD 20 service charge. As advertised by the provider, the service processes applications in 5-7 business days. The USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee, if applicable at your post, would be collected separately by the consulate when your visa is issued and is not part of the Visarun fee.

Hidden Costs You Need to Budget For: The Complete Financial Picture

Photographs

US visa photos for Indian applicants must be 2x2 inches with a white background and a neutral expression. Applicants may not wear spectacles in the photo. Professional studio charges for a compliant set vary by city, and no standardised price list is published officially. Checking a local photo studio in advance of your appointment is the practical approach.

Document Preparation and Translation

Business applicants typically gather invitation letters from US hosts, company registration documents, bank statements, income-tax returns, and evidence of ties to India. If any supporting documents are not in English, translation may be required. Exact translation costs depend on the volume and language complexity of the documents, and no official fee schedule covers this.

Courier and Passport Return

Applicants who qualify for and choose the document-submission route rather than an in-person interview will typically pay a courier fee for passport return after processing. The exact current fee charged by the visa application centre handling US applications in India is not published in a single official location and can change. The ustraveldocs.com portal is the reference point to check before submitting documents.

Travel to the Consulate

Indian applicants can typically apply at any of the five US consular posts — New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Kolkata — regardless of home city, though the consulate may ask for an explanation if applying outside your home jurisdiction. Factoring in travel costs and any accommodation needed for a distant consular city can add meaningfully to the overall budget, particularly if current wait times at your nearest post are much longer than at another.

The Real Cost of a Refusal

Because the MRV fee is non-refundable, a refused application means the USD 185 is forfeited and must be paid again if you reapply. The Visa Integrity Fee is collected only when a visa is actually issued, so a refusal at the interview stage would not trigger that additional charge. The strongest financial protection is a well-prepared first application.

Step-by-Step Application Process: Your Strategic Roadmap

Step 1 — Complete the DS-160

The DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application is filed at ceac.state.gov at no cost and typically takes 60-90 minutes to complete. The DS-160 confirmation page and its barcode typically link the online application to your scheduling profile on ustraveldocs.com, so keep the confirmation page saved and accessible throughout the process.

Step 2 — Pay the MRV Fee

Indian applicants typically have several payment options: NEFT bank transfer, IMPS mobile payment, cash deposit at designated bank branches, or UPI. NEFT payments typically take up to 24 hours to reflect in the system, while IMPS payments are generally faster. According to aggregator reports, UPI payments benefit from instant fee activation, allowing quicker appointment scheduling than NEFT. Applicants paying via IMPS during regular business hours (9 AM to 5 PM) can typically schedule their appointment within about three hours of payment. For cash payments, only cash is accepted at the participating bank counter — typically Axis Bank or Citibank — and demand drafts or cards are not valid for that channel.

Step 3 — Schedule Your Interview

A paid MRV receipt may be used once to schedule an interview and, if needed, once more to reschedule. A canceled appointment does not count toward this reschedule limit. If a rescheduled appointment date falls more than a year after the original fee payment, applicants may need to pay the MRV fee again unless granted an extension.

Wait times across Indian posts in mid-2026 varied considerably. In a June 2026 reporting period, average B-1/B-2 interview wait times were:

• Hyderabad — approximately 9.5 months
• Mumbai — approximately 9.5 months
• New Delhi — approximately 7.5 months (with a July 2026 report confirming 7.5 months)
• Chennai — approximately 5.5 months (approximately 3 months in an April 2026 snapshot, the fastest post at that time)
• Kolkata — approximately 4 months, and consistently among the fastest major posts through mid-2026

Wait times published by the US Department of State update monthly, so applicants should check the current estimate for their chosen post before finalising any travel plans.

Step 4 — Interview Waiver Eligibility

As of 2026, B-1/B-2 applicants remain among the main categories still eligible for the interview-waiver dropbox route, provided their previous US visa is still valid or expired within the last 12 months. Reports suggest this 12-month rule replaced the earlier pandemic-era 48-month window on February 18, 2025, and remains in force in 2026.

To qualify for the interview waiver, applicants typically need to apply in their country of nationality or usual residence, must never have been refused a visa (or must have overcome any refusal), and must have no apparent ineligibilities. Even when all criteria are met, consular officers typically retain full discretion to call any applicant for an in-person interview. The broad interview-waiver eligibility that previously covered H-1B, F-1, and L-1 holders in India was ended in September 2025, so B-1/B-2 renewal applicants should not assume those old rules carry over.

Step 5 — Attend the Interview (and Pay the Integrity Fee if Your Post Collects It)

Bring originals of your passport, DS-160 confirmation page, MRV fee receipt, photograph, and all supporting business documents. If the Visa Integrity Fee is being collected at your post, the consulate will advise on the payment mechanism — it is not collected at the DS-160 or MRV stage but directly by the embassy when the visa is issued. Confirm the current collection status with your specific post before your appointment date to avoid any surprises on the day.

Smart Strategies to Optimize Your Visa Budget

Apply Early to Avoid Fee Reactivation

Given that wait times at Indian posts ranged from roughly two months in Kolkata to eleven months in Mumbai as of mid-2026, according to the State Department wait-time tracker, applying as early as possible reduces the risk of your MRV receipt expiring before you attend the interview. The receipt is typically valid for 365 days from payment, and if a rescheduled appointment date pushes beyond that anniversary, you may face paying the USD 185 again.

Choose Your Consular Post Based on Current Wait Data

Indian applicants can typically apply at any of the five posts regardless of home city. Kolkata has consistently shown the shortest wait times, while Chennai narrowed the gap with New Delhi during 2026 and Mumbai and Hyderabad remained the slowest. If travelling to Kolkata is feasible, the time saved on the wait can outweigh the cost of the journey — particularly for applications tied to a specific business deadline.

Use Fast-Activation Payment Methods

According to aggregator reports, UPI payments activate instantly, allowing appointment scheduling without the delay associated with NEFT. If your bank supports UPI transfers to the US visa fee portal, this is typically the quickest path from payment to a confirmed interview slot, particularly at high-demand posts where slots fill rapidly.

Budget Conservatively for the Integrity Fee

Given uneven implementation of the USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee across consular posts, the most practical approach is to budget for it in full and treat any non-collection as a saving. Adding USD 250 to your planning now means no unexpected shortfall at the consulate window on appointment day.

Prepare Business Documents Thoroughly Before the Interview

A complete document set lets the officer decide at the window without asking for more paperwork. For B-1 business visits, an invitation letter from the US host company, proof of your company's registration and financial standing in India, and clear evidence of ties to India — such as property ownership, family dependants, or ongoing business commitments — form the foundation of a strong submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total cost of a US B-1/B-2 visa from India in 2026?

The base government charge — reports suggest — is USD 185 for the MRV application fee, which is non-refundable. An additional USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee may be collected when the visa is issued, depending on whether your specific consular post is enforcing it. At exchange rates reported in early 2026, the USD 185 alone converts to somewhere between roughly ₹15,350 and ₹16,368, with the exact amount fluctuating with the consular rate. Budgeting for both fees — a combined government cost of USD 435 — is the conservative approach, with the Integrity Fee confirmed or excluded based on direct inquiry to your consulate.

Is the USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee being collected at Indian consulates?

Implementation has been uneven. The fee was created by legislation signed on July 4, 2025, and one legal-services tracker noted that not all US consulates were charging it yet as of mid-2026. A university international office reported in May 2026 that some posts had begun collecting it. Whether all five Indian posts — New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata — are consistently applying the charge as of September 2026 has not been officially confirmed on the US Mission India website. Contacting your specific consulate directly before your appointment is the only reliable way to confirm.

Is the MRV fee refundable if my visa is refused?

Reports suggest the USD 185 MRV fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. If your application is refused and you reapply, you pay the fee again. The Visa Integrity Fee, by contrast, is only collected when a visa is actually issued, so a refusal at the interview stage should not trigger that additional charge — though the DHS refund process for edge cases has not yet been finalized.

How long does it take to get a US visa appointment in India in 2026?

Wait times vary considerably by post. In a June 2026 reporting period, average B-1/B-2 interview wait times were about 9.5 months in Hyderabad and Mumbai, 7.5 months in New Delhi, 5.5 months in Chennai, and approximately four months in Kolkata. An April 2026 snapshot showed Chennai as fast as three months. These figures update monthly on the US Department of State website, so checking the current estimate for your chosen post before finalising plans is important.

Can I skip the interview and use the dropbox option?

As of 2026, B-1/B-2 applicants remain among the categories still eligible for the interview-waiver dropbox route, provided their previous US visa is still valid or expired within the last 12 months, they are applying in their country of nationality or usual residence, and they have no prior unresolved visa refusals. Reports suggest this 12-month window replaced the earlier pandemic-era 48-month rule on February 18, 2025. Even when all criteria are met, consular officers typically retain full discretion to require an in-person interview.

How do I pay the US visa MRV fee in India?

Indian applicants typically have four payment options: NEFT bank transfer, IMPS mobile payment, cash deposit at a designated bank branch (typically Axis Bank or Citibank — cash only, demand drafts and cards are not accepted at that channel), or UPI. According to aggregator reports, UPI activates instantly, enabling faster appointment scheduling. NEFT payments typically take up to 24 hours to reflect. The consular exchange rate used to convert USD to INR may change, so verifying the current INR amount on ustraveldocs.com before paying is advisable, as of the last verified update on ustraveldocs.com.

How long is a US B-1/B-2 visa valid for Indian passport holders?

One reciprocity-schedule summary states Indian B-1/B-2 visas are currently listed for multiple entries with a validity of 120 months — ten years — when issued. The actual duration of each visit is decided individually by the CBP officer at the port of entry and recorded on your I-94; CBP officers typically grant up to roughly six months per visit. The I-94 record controls your lawful presence in the US, not the visa's printed expiry date.

Is there a fee discount for children applying for a US B-1/B-2 visa?

Reports suggest there is no children's discount on the US visa MRV fee — even infants and toddlers pay the full USD 185. Whether the new USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee applies equally to child applicants should be confirmed with the relevant consulate, as official guidance on age-based exemptions for this newer charge was still being clarified as of mid-2026. Total costs may vary depending on whether the Integrity Fee is currently being collected at a given post.

What happens if my MRV fee receipt expires before I attend the interview?

The MRV receipt is typically valid for 365 days from the date of payment, within which you must schedule and attend your interview. A canceled appointment does not count toward your one permitted reschedule, but if a rescheduled appointment date falls more than a year after the original fee payment, you may need to pay the USD 185 again unless an extension is granted. Given wait times at the slowest Indian posts reaching eleven months as of mid-2026, applying as early as possible after the DS-160 is submitted is the practical way to avoid this situation.

Does Visarun guarantee visa approval?

No platform or agency can guarantee a visa outcome. Approval decisions rest entirely with the US consulate, and consular officers exercise independent discretion at every stage of the process. Visarun's service covers the USD 185 MRV fee and a USD 20 service charge, with a published processing time of 5-7 business days as advertised by the provider. Using the service helps ensure the application is structured and submitted correctly, but the final decision always belongs to the consulate.