The DS-160 fee is $0 — the form itself is free

The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa process form you fill out before your visa interview. There is no charge to complete it, submit it, or receive your confirmation page. The U.S. State Department does not collect a fee for the form itself.

What you will pay for is the visa itself — a separate fee that depends on your visa type and your nationality. The DS-160 is just the paperwork that comes before that payment. Many people confuse the two because you submit the DS-160 before you pay the visa fee, but they are two different things.

Key Takeaways

  • The DS-160 form costs nothing to fill out and submit online at ceac.state.gov.
  • The visa fee itself — which you pay after submitting the DS-160 — varies by visa type and ranges from roughly $140 to $205 for most nonimmigrant visas.
  • You pay the visa fee at a bank or payment center in your country, not online, and you must do this before your interview appointment.
  • Some countries have reciprocity fees on top of the standard visa fee; check the U.S. embassy website for your country to see if this applies to you.
  • You cannot schedule an interview until you have both submitted the DS-160 and paid the visa fee.

Where the visa fee goes and how much it is

After you submit your DS-160, you will need to pay the visa process fee, which is separate. For most nonimmigrant visas — tourist visas, work visas, student visas — the fee is $160 USD. Some visa types cost $190 or $205. The exact amount depends on your visa category, not on the DS-160.

You do not pay this fee online. Instead, you pay it at a bank or designated payment center in your country. The U.S. embassy or consulate in your country will tell you which banks accept visa fee payments and how to submit yours. You will receive a receipt with a payment confirmation number, which you will need when you schedule your interview.

Keep your receipt. You cannot move forward without proof that you paid.

Reciprocity fees — an extra charge in some countries

Some countries charge a reciprocity fee on top of the standard visa fee. This is a fee that country charges U.S. citizens, and the U.S. charges their citizens the same amount in return. The reciprocity fee varies widely — it can be anywhere from $0 to several hundred dollars depending on your nationality.

You will only owe a reciprocity fee if you are a citizen of a country that has one. Check the U.S. embassy or consulate website for your country to see whether a reciprocity fee applies to your visa type. If it does, you pay it at the same time and place as your standard visa fee.

How to pay the visa fee

The process varies by country, but the general steps are: go to the U.S. embassy or consulate website for your location, find the section on visa fees, and look for the list of banks or payment centers that accept visa payments. Some countries use online payment systems; others require you to go in person to a bank.

When you pay, you will receive a receipt or confirmation number. Write down this number — you will enter it when you schedule your interview. Some countries also issue a receipt document that you must bring to your interview appointment.

Pay the fee before you try to schedule your interview. The interview scheduling system will ask for your payment confirmation number, and you cannot proceed without it.

Timeline: when to pay relative to your interview

Submit your DS-160 first. You will get a confirmation page with a barcode and confirmation number — save this. Then pay your visa fee at a bank or payment center. Once you have both the DS-160 confirmation and the visa fee receipt, you can schedule your interview appointment through the embassy or consulate website.

The time between paying the fee and getting an interview slot depends on how busy the consulate is. Some locations have appointments available within days; others have a wait of several weeks or months. Check the consulate website for your location to see current wait times.

What happens if you do not pay the fee

If you submit the DS-160 but do not pay the visa fee, you cannot schedule an interview. The system will not let you book a time slot without proof of payment. You will be stuck at that step until you pay.

If you have already scheduled an interview and then miss it without paying, you may lose your fee and have to pay again to reschedule. Different consulates have different policies on refunds, so check your consulate's website or contact them directly if you need to cancel or reschedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay the DS-160 fee online?

There is no DS-160 fee to pay. The form is free. You do pay a visa fee online in some countries, but not in all — check your embassy or consulate website to see whether online payment is available where you are.

What if I cannot afford the visa fee right now?

The fee is set by the U.S. State Department and does not change. You will need to save the amount before you can move forward with your interview. There are no payment plans or waivers for the standard visa fee.

Do I get a refund if my visa is denied?

No. The visa fee is nonrefundable even if your visa is denied at the interview. You would have to pay again if you reapply.

Is the DS-160 confirmation number the same as my payment confirmation number?

No. The DS-160 gives you one confirmation number (shown on your confirmation page). The visa fee payment gives you a separate confirmation number (shown on your receipt). You need both numbers to schedule your interview.

What if I lose my payment receipt?

Contact the bank or payment center where you paid to request a copy of your receipt or a new confirmation number. You will need this to schedule your interview, so get it replaced as soon as possible.