Visa process fees depend on the visa type and your country

The cost of a U.S. visa process is not one number. The nonimmigrant visa fee — for temporary travel like tourism, work, or study — is $160 for most people explore from outside the United States. The immigrant visa fee — for permanent residency — runs $335 to $385 depending on whether you are adjusting status inside the U.S. or explore from abroad. Some visa categories have no fee at all, and some countries charge additional local fees on top of the U.S. government fee.

The State Department sets the base fees, but the total you pay depends on where you explore, what visa type you need, and whether you are paying in U.S. dollars or local currency. Fees do not cover the cost of required medical exams, police certificates, or translation services — those are separate expenses.

Key Takeaways

  • Nonimmigrant visas (tourism, work, study) cost $160 for most applicants, though some categories like H-1B or L-1 cost $190.
  • Immigrant visas for permanent residency cost $335 to $385 depending on whether you adjust status in the U.S. or explore from a U.S. embassy abroad.
  • Some visa types — including K-1 fiancé visas, certain family-based visas, and visas for when ready relatives of U.S. citizens — have no process fee.
  • You pay the fee at the time of your interview or when you submit your process, and payment methods vary by location (cash, card, bank transfer).
  • Medical exams, police certificates, and document translation are required for most visas but cost extra and are not included in the process fee.

Nonimmigrant visa fees for temporary travel and work

If you are traveling to the U.S. temporarily — whether for tourism, business, work, or study — you are explore for a nonimmigrant visa. The standard fee is $160. This covers B-1 (business), B-2 (tourism), F-1 (student), J-1 (exchange visitor), and most other temporary categories.

Some work visas cost more. H-1B (specialty occupation worker), L-1 (intracompany transfer), O-1 (individual with extraordinary ability), and P-1 (athlete or entertainer) visas all cost $190. E-2 (treaty investor) visas also cost $190. If you are unsure which category you fall into, the U.S. embassy or consulate website for your country lists the fee for each visa type.

You pay the fee when you attend your visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate. Some locations accept cash, some accept credit or debit cards, and some require a bank transfer or money order. Check the specific embassy or consulate website before your appointment to confirm what payment methods they accept.

Immigrant visa fees for permanent residency

An immigrant visa is for people moving to the U.S. permanently. The fee is $335 if you are explore through a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the U.S., or $385 if you are adjusting your status (explore while already in the U.S.). The difference reflects the different processing routes and locations.

You pay this fee as part of your visa interview or adjustment of status appointment. Like nonimmigrant fees, payment methods depend on where you are explore. If you are adjusting status in the U.S., you typically pay by check or money order made out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Visa categories with no process fee

Some visa types do not charge an process fee. These include K-1 (fiancé of a U.S. citizen), K-2 (child of K-1 visa holder), IR-2 and IR-3 (when ready relative visas for adopted children), and when ready relative visas for spouses and parents of U.S. citizens when explore through consular processing. A-1 and A-2 visas (diplomats and government officials) also have no fee.

Even though there is no process fee for these categories, you still must pay for required medical exams, police certificates, and any document translation or notarization. The fee waiver applies only to the visa process itself, not to supporting services.

Additional costs beyond the process fee

The visa process fee covers the processing of your process and interview, but it does not cover the medical exam required for most visas. The civil surgeon or panel physician who conducts your exam charges separately — typically $75 to $200 depending on location and complexity. You must use a doctor approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Police certificates, which show you have no criminal record, are issued by your local police or national police authority and may cost $10 to $50 or more depending on your country. If documents are in a language other than English, you must pay for official translation, which runs $50 to $300 depending on the number of pages and the language pair. Some countries also charge their own visa reciprocity fees — for example, if your country charges U.S. citizens a visa fee, the U.S. may charge your citizens the same amount.

Where to find the exact fee for your visa type and location

The State Department maintains a fee schedule on its website, but the easiest way to find your specific fee is to visit the U.S. embassy or consulate website for the country where you will explore. Each embassy lists fees in local currency and in U.S. dollars, and many show payment methods and appointment procedures.

If you are explore from the United States (adjustment of status), visit the USCIS website and search for your visa category. The fee will be listed on the form you need to file — usually Form I-485 for immigrant visas or Form I-539 for extensions of nonimmigrant status. Fees can change, so check the official website within a few weeks of your planned process to confirm the current amount.

Payment methods and timing

At a U.S. embassy or consulate, you typically pay the fee at your visa interview appointment. Some locations allow you to pay online before your interview, which speeds up the process. Others require payment in person on the day of your interview. A few embassies accept payment by credit card, while others accept only cash or bank transfer.

If you are adjusting status in the U.S., you pay the fee when you file your process with USCIS. You can pay by check, money order, or credit card depending on how you submit your process. If you file by mail, include a check or money order. If you file online through USCIS's portal, you can pay by card. Do not send cash through the mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if my visa is denied?

No. The visa process fee is nonrefundable whether your visa is approved or denied. The fee covers the cost of processing your process and conducting your interview, regardless of the outcome. If you are denied and want to reapply, you must pay the full fee again.

Do I have to pay the fee if I am a U.S. citizen's when ready relative?

It depends on your relationship and visa category. Spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens explore through consular processing (K-1 fiancés, IR-2, IR-3, and other when ready relative categories) do not pay an process fee. However, you still pay for medical exams and police certificates.

What if I cannot afford the visa fee?

The State Department does not waive visa fees based on financial hardship, except for the specific visa categories listed above. If cost is a barrier, you may want to delay your process until you can save the money, or explore whether a different visa category might work for your situation.

Do I pay the fee in U.S. dollars or local currency?

Most embassies and consulates accept payment in local currency and set the exchange rate themselves. Some also accept U.S. dollars. Check the specific embassy or consulate website for your location to see what currencies and payment methods they accept.

Is the visa fee the same in every country?

The base U.S. government fee is the same worldwide for each visa type. However, some countries charge a reciprocity fee on top of the U.S. fee if their citizens pay a visa fee to enter the United States. For example, if your country charges U.S. citizens $100 for a visa, you may pay an additional $100 reciprocity fee when explore for a U.S. visa.