"not a complete MRV fee payment" - H1B Visa

[swo0sh.gt 0]

Hello folks,

 

I'm currently in the US and need to travel to my home country in order to get H1B stamping on me and my family's passport. However, when I paid H1B visa fees (displayed at step #8 of the appointment scheduling screen) for my family of 3, I got the following error message.

 

"

The receipt number entered, <MRV receipt number> , is not a complete MRV fee payment. To schedule an appointment with this receipt number, please pay INR 8310.04 via the same method used for the original payment. It is extremely important to use the same receipt number when making the second payment.

"

I'm not sure what is the difference amount and why it came. What I understood from the Support team is the difference amount is because I should've selected "Petition based visa", but I chose "Non-petition based visa". I couldn't find any option for me (as a candidate) to select "Petition" or "Non-petition" based visa.

The case is now escalated to the US embassy and they're taking forever to look into the matter. I've not heard from them since over a month now.

 

Did anyone experience the same issue? Any pointers / guidance are grealy appreciated.

 

Thank you,

Darshan

 

 

[jan22 2,898]

The MRV fee for a non-petition visa is $160 (or inr equivalent at Embassy exchange rate).

 

The MRV fee for a petition-based visa is $190 (or inr equivalent).

 

See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html

 

You don't state how much you paid -- and I did not look up the official Embassy exchange rate -- but the amount owed indicates it would be close to the $30 difference per person between these two rates.  You will not be able to schedule an appointment for H visas until the proper amount is paid.

 

BTW, there will be a fee increase to $185 and $205, respectively, that is scheduled to take effect on May 30, 2023.

[swo0sh.gt 0]

Perfect assessment!

 

During the visa payment, I wasn’t asked to chose “petition vs non-petition based” fees. So I paid the fees whatever was displayed on the screen. When the MRV fee error message displayed with the underpaid message, the support team confirmed the same problem you have mentioned above. 
 

As a candidate, I am unsure how can I chose to pay for petition vs non-petition based fees. 
 

Btw, my application was for petition based visa and embassy finally resolved the case from their end at 33rd day from the escalation date and I didn’t need to pay any excess amount. 
 

Thank you for the rationale though.