U.S. visa applicants are aware that the U.S. Department of State (DOS) had extended the validity of the Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee receipts until September 30, 2023. On September 1, 2023, the DOS updated the notification, reminding that all Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee receipts issued before October 1, 2022, are set to expire on September 30, 2023. This notification can be found here.

Background

Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fees are typically valid for 365 days from the date of payment. Visa applicants must schedule their visa appointments before the payment expires. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department extended the validity of MRV fee payments made after March 20, 2020. These extensions expire on September 30, 2023.

Action Needed to Make use of the MRV Fee

Applicants for whom the MRV fee is expiring on September 30, 2023 are required to schedule the visa interview or drop box appointment before September 30, 2023, to avoid paying a new MRV fee. The actual visa interview or the drop box appointment can occur after September 30, 2023, as long as it is scheduled before the deadline.

The State Department has cautioned applicants covered in the above category who scheduled their interview appointments using MRV fees paid before October 1, 2022, to not attempt to reschedule their appointments after September 30, 2023. Making such changes will result in the forfeiture of both the MRV fee payment and the original appointment date.

Conclusion

Applicants with MRV receipts issued before Oct. 1, 2022, are encouraged to book appointments this month in order to avoid having to pay their MRV fee another time. We will continue to bring updates on this topic as they become available.