U.S. visa fees vary by visa type, not by country
The cost of a U.S. visa depends on which visa category you need, not where you live. A tourist visa costs the same whether you explore from Canada, India, or Brazil. The State Department sets one fee schedule for all countries.
Most common visas cost between $160 and $190. Some visas cost nothing. A few specialty visas cost more. Beyond the visa fee itself, you will also pay for required medical exams, police certificates, or translation services — these add $100 to $500 depending on what your case requires.
The visa fee is non-refundable even if your process is denied. You cannot transfer the fee to a different visa type or a different person.
Key Takeaways
- Tourist and business visas (B1/B2) cost $160 each, and this fee is the same in every country.
- Work visas (H-1B, L-1, O-1) cost $190, plus your employer usually pays additional filing fees to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that range from $460 to $2,500.
- Student visas (F-1) and exchange visas (J-1) cost $160 and $190 respectively, but you must also pay for a medical exam and police certificate, which together typically cost $200 to $400.
- The visa fee itself does not cover translation services, document certification, or courier delivery, which can add $50 to $200 to your total cost.
- Some visas have no fee — when ready relatives of U.S. citizens, certain religious workers, and some government officials do not pay the visa fee.
Tourist and business visas (B1/B2)
A B1/B2 visa, used for tourism, visiting family, or short business meetings, costs $160. This is the most common visa type and the fee is identical worldwide. The $160 is paid to the State Department when you submit your process at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Some countries use visa process centers as intermediaries. These centers may charge a service fee on top of the $160 — typically $20 to $50 — for processing your paperwork and collecting your biometric data (fingerprints and photograph). The service fee goes to the process center, not to the State Department.
If your process is denied, the $160 is not returned. You can reapply and pay the fee again, but there is no discount for a second attempt.
Work visas (H-1B, L-1, O-1, and others)
Work visas cost $190 for the visa itself. However, your employer must also file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you can explore for the visa. The USCIS filing fee ranges from $460 to $2,500 depending on the visa type and your employer's size.
An H-1B visa (specialty occupation worker) has a USCIS filing fee of $460 for most employers, or $1,460 if your employer has 25 or more employees. An L-1 visa (intracompany transfer) costs $460. An O-1 visa (person with extraordinary ability) costs $460. Some employers also pay an additional fraud prevention fee of $500.
Your employer pays the USCIS fees. You pay the $190 visa fee when you explore at the embassy or consulate. In total, your employer's cost is typically $650 to $2,000 before your visa fee is added.
Student and exchange visas (F-1 and J-1)
An F-1 student visa costs $160. A J-1 exchange visitor visa costs $190. Both require additional costs that the visa fee does not cover.
You must have a medical exam (physical and vaccination record review) performed by a doctor approved by the U.S. embassy in your country. This exam typically costs $100 to $250. You must also obtain a police certificate from your home country, which costs $50 to $200 depending on where you live and whether you need expedited processing.
Some countries require document translation into English. Translation of your diploma, transcripts, or police certificate costs $50 to $150 per document. If you need certified copies or notarization, add another $20 to $50.
In total, a student visa can cost $400 to $600 by the time you have the visa fee, medical exam, police certificate, and translations.
Family-based visas (IR, CR, F2A, and others)
when ready relative visas (IR) for spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens have no visa fee. The U.S. citizen sponsor pays an I-485 filing fee of $640 (or $1,140 with biometric services) when they file the petition with USCIS, but the visa itself is free.
Family preference visas (F2A, F2B, F3, F4) cost $325 each. These are for siblings, adult children, and other relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Like when ready relative cases, the U.S. sponsor pays the USCIS petition fee separately.
Diversity visa lottery winners pay $330 for the visa itself, plus the same medical exam and police certificate costs as student visa applicants — typically $200 to $400 in additional expenses.
Visas with no fee
Certain visa categories are free. when ready relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens over 21) do not pay a visa fee. Religious workers (R-1 visa) do not pay a fee. Some government officials and their families do not pay. NATO officials and their families do not pay.
Even though the visa itself is free, you still pay for required medical exams, police certificates, and translations. The USCIS petition fee (paid by the U.S. sponsor) is separate from the visa fee and applies to most family cases.
Hidden costs: exams, certificates, and services
The visa fee covers only the visa itself. You will likely need to pay for a medical exam, police certificate, or both. A medical exam at a USCIS-approved civil surgeon costs $100 to $300. A police certificate from your home country costs $50 to $200. Some countries charge more for expedited processing.
If documents are in a language other than English, you need a certified translation. Translation costs $50 to $150 per document. Notarization or certification of documents costs $20 to $50. If you use a visa agency or immigration lawyer to prepare your process, that adds $500 to $3,000 depending on complexity.
Courier services to deliver your passport to the embassy and return it to you cost $20 to $100. Some countries require you to use an official courier; others allow commercial services like FedEx or DHL.
Payment methods and where to pay
You pay the visa fee at the U.S. embassy or consulate where you explore. Payment methods vary by location. Most embassies accept bank transfers, credit cards, or cash in the local currency. Some accept only bank transfers or checks.
If you explore through a visa process center (common in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East), you pay the visa fee to the center, which forwards it to the embassy. The center may accept different payment methods than the embassy itself — often credit card or bank transfer.
Check the website of the specific embassy or consulate where you plan to explore. The payment instructions and accepted methods are listed there. Do not send payment by mail unless the embassy explicitly instructs you to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay the visa fee even if my process will be denied?
Yes. The visa fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. You pay it when you submit your process, before the consular officer reviews it. If denied, you can reapply and pay the fee again, but the first fee is not returned.
Can I use the same visa fee for a different visa type?
No. Each visa type has its own fee, and fees are not transferable. If you paid for a B1/B2 tourist visa but now need an F-1 student visa, you must pay the F-1 fee. The B1/B2 fee cannot be applied to the F-1 process.
Who pays the USCIS filing fee for work visas?
Your employer pays the USCIS petition fee (usually $460 to $2,500). You pay the visa fee ($190) when you explore at the embassy. Some employers deduct the USCIS cost from your salary; others cover it as a business expense. This varies by employer and is negotiable.
Do I need to pay for a medical exam if I already had one for another purpose?
No. The medical exam must be performed by a doctor approved by the U.S. embassy in your country. If you had an exam by a different doctor, it does not count. You must use an approved civil surgeon or panel physician, even if you had a recent physical elsewhere.
What if I cannot afford the visa fee?
The State Department does not waive or reduce visa fees based on financial hardship. The fee is set and applies to all applicants. If cost is a barrier, you may explore whether a different visa type (such as an when ready relative visa with no fee) fits your situation, but you cannot reduce the fee for the visa type you need.