Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fees paid to the Department of State (DOS) in connection with a visa application submitted to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad are normally valid for up to 12 months from the date of payment. Due to consulate closures and other processing delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOS extended the validity of MRV fees paid on or after March 20, 2020. On September 1, 2023, the DOS announced the end of these COVID-era extensions and will resume the 12-month validity period for all MRV fee payments. Any visa applicant who submitted their MRV fee payment between March 20, 2020, and October 1, 2022, must schedule an appointment or submit an interview waiver application before September 30, 2023. Failure to meet this deadline will result in forfeiture of the fees paid. Interviews scheduled beyond this date will remain valid so long as the appointment is scheduled before the deadline. Importantly, applicants who have been scheduled for an interview to take place after September 30 should not attempt to reschedule their appointments after that date, as this will result in both the loss of the original appointment date and forfeiture of the MRV fee. If the MRV fee expires before the applicant has scheduled an appointment or submitted an interview waiver application, the applicant must submit a new application package in addition to a new MRV fee payment.
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