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Below are the most recent updates with regard to MRV Fee Payment and Contacting the US Embassy in Singapore.
MRV Fee Payment
Please note that there are now only two modes of MRV fee payment for nonimmigrant visas (including H-1B1 visas) with the US Embassy in Singapore (per the US Travel Docs website for Singapore here):
1. Pay in-person (only possible if you are in Singapore): Pay in-person with Cash or with a Debit card at VFS Global located at 79 Anson Road, #15-02, Singapore 0799062.
2. Pay Online: Credit/Debit card.
(Electronic Fund Transfer/EFT is no longer a valid mode of payment)
The most efficient payment method is to do so online via #2 - Credit/Debit card . The problem is that at present only Mastercard is allowed (i.e. other cards such as a Visa card or American Express card, etc. are not accepted). This is rather strange since many people use other types of cards besides Mastercard. Having said that, if you do not have a Mastercard, one solution is to purchase a Mastercard gift card from here.
Contacting the Embassy
The US Embassy in Singapore could historically be contacted via email at: Singaporecon@state.gov, and responses were usually prompt. But as of now, this email is no longer in use for routine inquiries (although it may still be used if the Embassy directs an applicant to use it for post-interview document submission for the purposes of administrative processing).
As of now, to ensure that inquiries to the US Embassy in Singapore will be responded to, you will generally have to use the new interview booking US Travel Docs platform at https://www.usvisaschedulin
Further or in the alternative, the customer help desk hotline for the US Embassy in Singapore is currently still working for telephonic inquiries (8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Singapore time):
A. Dial +65 3158 5400 if you are in Singapore, or
B. Dial 703 520 2238 if you are in the United States.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
