Is this the correct path in Niyo app? It showed international money transfer. I want to transfer money to Mercury bank account with approximately zero charges.
Searching the Web
Niyo app international money transfer to US bank account Mercury purpose selection
The screen you're on is the "Select the purpose" screen for an international money transfer in the Niyo app. Here's a quick breakdown:
Is this the right path? — Partially. You've reached the correct flow for international transfers, but the purpose you select matters both for RBI compliance and for whether the transfer will go through smoothly.
Which purpose should you select for Mercury bank?
Mercury is a US business bank (primarily for startups/freelancers). The correct purpose depends on why you're sending money there:
| Your scenario | Select this purpose |
|---|---|
| You're a student sending money to your own US account for living expenses | Student living expenses |
| Paying rent in the US | Student rent |
| Sending to a business/startup account you own (self-transfer) | Student living expenses is the closest, but ideally contact Niyo support — Mercury is a business account, which can complicate things |
| Paying someone/a company | Choose the most accurate option from "More Options" |
Charges with Niyo:
Niyo advertises zero platform fee and zero forex markup on transfers, making it one of the cheapest options from India. However:
- Your Indian bank may still charge a SWIFT/wire fee (typically ₹500–₹1,500)
- Mercury receives USD domestic wires for free (no incoming fee for standard accounts)
So end-to-end cost should be near-zero or very minimal.
One important caveat: Mercury is a US business checking account. If you're doing a personal remittance (like self-transfer under LRS — Liberalized Remittance Scheme), make sure the account name on Mercury matches your name. If it's a business account in a company name, some banks/intermediaries may flag or reject the transfer. It's worth confirming with Niyo support via in-app chat before proceeding.
I am currently in US and I want to use my Mercury card with Apple Pay to be used as a convenience source of payment, so I need funds in my Mercury bank account I am not a student. I am on a visitor visa, and I am travelling and finding opportunities .
Searching the Web
Niyo app international transfer purpose "family maintenance" or "personal" visitor visa non-student India to US
Good context — that changes things significantly. Here's the full picture:
The Problem with That Screen
None of those purpose options fit your situation:
- University fees, Student living expenses, Student rent, Blocked account transfer, GIC transfer — all are student-specific purposes under RBI's LRS framework.
- Using a student purpose when you're not a student is incorrect declaration and could cause compliance issues.
What You Should Actually Do
Tap "More Options" — there should be additional purpose codes beyond what's visible. Look for:
- Travel or Travel expenses
- Maintenance of self/relatives abroad
- Personal or Other current account transactions
For a visitor on a B1/B2 visa sending money to your own US account for travel expenses, "Travel" or "Maintenance of self abroad" is the correct RBI/FEMA purpose code.
But Wait — Is Niyo Even the Best Option Here?
Since you're already in the US and need funds in Mercury quickly, consider these alternatives that may be faster and cheaper:
| Option | How | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise (TransferWise) | INR → USD to Mercury routing/account number | ~0.5–0.7% fee, very low | 1–2 days |
| Niyo Send Money | Use correct "Travel" purpose | Zero platform fee | 2–3 days |
| Google Pay / PhonePe | Some support international transfers | Varies | 1–2 days |
| Your Indian bank's net banking | SWIFT transfer to Mercury | ₹500–1500 flat | 2–4 days |
Wise is often the most practical for your scenario — it's fast, the fee is minimal (usually under $5 on small amounts), and it sends directly to Mercury's routing + account number with no purpose-code complications.
Summary
- The screen you're on is not right for you — those are student-specific purposes.
- Scroll to "More Options" in Niyo and look for a Travel or Personal maintenance purpose code.
- If you don't find one, Wise is the better tool for your use case — near-zero fees, no student purpose needed, and Mercury accepts it cleanly.
I'm not able to find niyo send money feature that you are suggesting.
This is the domestic Transfers screen — this is for sending money within India (IMPS/Quick Transfer). This is not the international money transfer section.
The "Send Money" here means domestic IMPS transfers to Indian bank accounts — not international.
How to Find the International Transfer Feature in Niyo
The international transfer (the screen from your first screenshot) is a separate section. Here's how to get there:
- Go back to the Niyo app home screen
- Look for a section labeled "Send Money Abroad", "Remit", or "International Transfer" — it's usually a distinct card/banner on the home screen
- It may also be under a "More" or "Explore" tab in the bottom navigation bar
The first screenshot you shared (with University fees, Student living expenses, etc.) was the international transfer flow — so you did find it once. You just need to navigate back to that same starting point.
My Honest Recommendation for Your Situation
Since you're already in the US and just need travel money in Mercury quickly, skip Niyo for this and use Wise instead:
- Download the Wise app (or use web)
- Send INR from your Indian bank → USD directly to your Mercury routing + account number
- Purpose: "Living expenses abroad" or "Travel" — straightforward, no student codes
- Fee: typically under ₹300–500 on small amounts
- Arrives in Mercury in 1–2 business days
Wise is purpose-built for exactly your use case and has no ambiguity around purpose codes.
This is what it shows and currently, these are the options it shows in international money transfer.
Now I can see the full picture clearly.
The Niyo "Int'l Money Transfer" feature is built exclusively for students. Every purpose option — University fees, Student living expenses, Student rent, Blocked account transfer, GIC transfer — is student-specific. There is no "Travel" or "Personal maintenance" option. This product is not designed for your use case.
What You Should Use Instead
Since you're already in the US on a visitor visa and just need to fund your Mercury account from India, here are your best options:
Option 1: Wise (Best for your situation)
- Go to wise.com or download the Wise app
- Send INR from your Indian bank account → USD to Mercury's routing + account number
- Purpose: "Living costs" or "Travel" — no student declaration required
- Fee: ~0.5–0.7% (usually under ₹400 on small amounts)
- Arrives in 1–2 business days
Option 2: Your Indian Bank's Net Banking Directly
- Log into your Indian bank (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, etc.) net banking
- Use their Outward Remittance / SWIFT transfer feature
- Select purpose: "Maintenance of self abroad" (a valid LRS purpose for travelers)
- Enter Mercury's routing number + account number
- Fee: flat ₹500–1,500 depending on bank
- Arrives in 2–4 business days
Option 3: Instarem / Remitly
- Similar to Wise, competitive rates, supports personal travel transfers
Bottom Line
Niyo's international transfer is not for you — it's a student remittance product. Use Wise — it takes 10 minutes to set up, supports your exact use case (personal/travel), and the fees are near-zero.
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.