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By Thomas Sullivan•Last Updated April 13, 2025

Complete Guide to U.S. Visa Costs: Application Fees, Processing Times, and What to Expect

How lots do a United States visa cost? Complete fee breakdown

Navigate the U.S. visa application process can be complex, and understand the associate costs is crucial for proper planning. This comprehensive guide break down the various fees for different visa types, additional expenses, and payment methods to help you budget accurately for your u.s. visa application.

Non immigrant visa fees

Non immigrant visas are for temporary stays in the United States. The application fees vary base on the visa category:

Tourist and business visas (b1 / b2 )

The application fee for b1 (business )and b2 ( (urist ) )sas is $ 16$160is fee cover the processing of your application and is non rnon-refundableregarding of whether your visa is approapprovedeny.

Student visas (f and m )

For those plan to study in the u.s., the application fee for f (academic studies )and m ( (cational studies ) )sas is too $ 16$160udents must likewise pay a sevisNevisof $ 350$350f visas and $ 220 $220 visas, which fund the student and exchange visitor information system.

Exchange visitor visas (j )

J visa applicants pay the standard $160 application fee plus a sNevisfee that range from $$220to $ $367depend on the specific exchange program.

Work visas

Work relate non immigrant visas have varied fees:

H 1b (specialty occupations ) $ $190pplication fee
H 2a (agricultural workers ) $ $190pplication fee
H 2b (temporary nnon-agriculturalworkers ) $ $190pplication fee
L 1 (iintercompanytransferee ) $ $190pplication fee
O 1 (extraordinary ability ) $ $190pplication fee

Employers sponsor these visas may need to pay additional fees to the U.S. citizenship and immigration services (uUSCIS) such as the fraud prevention and detection fee ( (5$500a) the acwiaacid( up t($ 1,500$1
)

Crew member visas (c1 / d )

Crew members of ships or aircraft pay $160 for their visa application.

Transit visas (c )

If you’re pass through the U.S. to another destination, the c visa application fee is $160.

Immigrant visa fees

Immigrant visas are for those plan to live permanently in the United States. These applications involve two fee payments: one to USCIS for the petition and another to the department of state for visa processing.

Family sponsored immigrant visas

The petition filing fee (i 130 )pay to usUSCISs $ $535After petition approval, applicants pay $ 3$325 the department of state for visa processing.

Employment base immigrant visas

Employers typically pay $700 for the petition (( 140 ))The visa applicant so pay $ 3$325 the department of state.

Diversity visa program

While entry into the diversity visa lottery is free, select applicants must pay $330 per person for visa processing.

Immigrant visa application processing fee

All immigrant visa applicants pay an additional $220 immigrant visa application processing fee.

USCIS immigrant fee

After receive an immigrant visa, you must pay a $220 uUSCISimmigrant fee before travel to the uUnited States This fee cover the cost of process your green card.

Additional costs to consider

Beyond the basic application fees, several other expenses may apply during the visa process:

Biometric services fee

Some visa applicants must pay an $85 biometric services fee for fingerprinting and photo services.

Premium processing

For faster processing of certain employment base petitions, applicants can pay an additional $2,500 for premium processing, which guarantee a response within 15 calendar days.

Medical examination

All immigrant visa applicants and some non immigrant applicants must undergo a medical examination, which cost between $100 and $$500 depend on the country and doctor.

Translation and document authentication

If your documents are not in English, you will need to pay for will certify translations. Some documents may likewise require authentication, which can cost $ 2$200 per document.

Travel expenses for interviews

Most visa applicants must attend an in person interview at an u.s. embassy or consulate, which may involve travel expenses.

Visa photos

You will need to will provide photos that meet specific requirements, cost roughly $ 1$100.

Fee waivers and exceptions

In certain circumstances, visa fees may be waived:

Fee waiver eligibility

Fee waivers are available for applicants who can demonstrate inability to pay. This typically require proof of financial hardship and is evaluated on a case by case basis.

Diplomatic and official visas

Applicants for a, g, c 3, NATO, and diplomatic type visas are loosely exempt from application fees.

Certain exchange visitors

Some j 1 visa participants in u.s. government sponsor programs may have their fees waive.

Payment methods

Understand how to pay your visa fees is important for a smooth application process:

For department of state fees

Payment methods vary by embassy or consulate but typically include:

Cash (in local currency )
Credit card
Bank transfer
Cashier’s check

Some locations may require payment at specific banks or through online payment systems. Check the specific u.s. embassy or consulate website for local payment instructions.

For USCIS fees

USCIS fees can be pay by:

Check or money order (payable to ” .s. department of homeland security “”
Credit card (use form g 1450 )
Online payment for certain forms

Fee changes and updates

Visa fees are subject to change. The department of state typically review and adjusts fees every few years base on the cost of provide services. Perpetually will check the official u.s. department of state website or the website of the U.S. embassy or will consulate where you will apply for the near current fee information.

Refund policy

Most visa application fees are non-refundable, still if your application is deni, oror you withdraw it. There be really limited circumstances where refunds migbe consideredder:

The department of state determines the fee was collect in error
The embassy or consulate can not process your specific visa category

Refunds are not give for visa denials or if you decide not to proceed with your application after payment.

Cost comparison: visa services vs. DIY application

Use Visa services

Many applicants choose to use Visa services or immigration attorneys to assist with their applications. These services typically charge $200 $2,000 in addition to the standard visa fees, depend on the complexity of your case and the level of assistance provide.

DIY application

Handle the application yourself save on service fees but require more time and attention to detail. You’ll notwithstanding will need to pay all the standard government fees.

Visa renewal costs

If you’ll need to will renew your visa, you’ll loosely pay the same fee as for a new application. Notwithstanding, some visa categories offer streamlined renewal processes that may not require an interview, potentially save on travel expenses.

Budget for your u.s. visa application

When plan your budget for an u.s. visa application, consider the following:

Basic application budget

For a typical non immigrant visa (such as a tourist visa ) budget at least:

Application fee: $160
Photos: $10 $20
Travel to interview: varies by location

Immigrant visa budget

For an immigrant visa, budget roughly:

Petition fee: $535 $700
Visa application fee: $325
Immigrant visa processing fee: $220
USCIS immigrant fee: $220
Medical examination: $100 $500
Photos and document preparation: $50 $200
Travel expenses for interview: varies by location

This brings the total for an immigrant visa to roughly$11,450 $2,165, not include potential attorney fees or additional services.

Timeline and processing considerations

While not direct relate to costs, understand processing times can help you plan financially:

Standard processing times

Tourist and business visas: 1 3 months
Student visas: 2 5 weeks
Work visas: 2 6 months
Immigrant visas: 10 24 months

Longer processing times may mean more expenses if you need to adjust travel plans or living arrangements.

Expedited processing options

Premium processing is available for certain visa categories at an additional cost of $2,500, reduce wait times to 15 calendar days.

Conclusion: planning for your u.s. visa costs

The cost of obtain an u.s. visa extend beyond the basic application fee. Depend on your visa type and personal circumstances, you might spend anyplace from$1700 for a simple tourist visa to over $2,000 for an immigrant visa with all associate costs.

To ensure you’re prepared financially:

Research the specific fees for your visa category
Budget for additional expenses like medical exams and travel
Check payment methods accept at your specific embassy or consulate
Monitor for any fee changes before your application
Consider the potential costs of professional assistance if your case is complex

By understand the full range of costs associate with u.s. visas, you can plan befittingly and avoid unexpected financial surprises during your application process.