US revises Machine Readable Visa fee

The United States has revised the non-immigrant Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee from $100 to $131 from January 1, 2008. 

In a release, the US Embassy said it encourages all applicants holding an MRV visa application fee receipt, but who have not yet scheduled their visa appointment to do so immediately, as the $100 receipts will expire on January 31, 2008.

Online appointments for those holding current receipts are scheduled through the embassy's website.  Receipts purchased after January 1, 2008, regardless of the interview date, will be at the new rate -- $131.

Visa applicants, who paid the $100 application fee and who appear for an interview after January 31, 2008 will be required to bring a non-refundable demand draft for the $31 difference in fee.

The fee adjustment is the first since 2002 and reflects some of the additional costs of administering nonimmigrant visas services, a release from the embassy said.

For more information: www.vfs-usa.co.in or http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov.