How Much Does a US Visa Cost in 2026: All Fees and Extra Costs
Short answer: a B1/B2 tourist visa costs a $185 consular fee. Below are the fees for other visas, what else you will spend money on and how not to overpay. As of 10/25/2026, amounts from the State Department website.
⚡ In short
- B1/B2: $185 consular fee, not refunded if you are refused.
- Students (F-1, M-1): $185 + SEVIS $350. Petition-based work (H-1B, L, O, P, R): $205, K-1: $265, E: $315.
- Visa Integrity Fee $250 – it is in the law, but no collection procedure has been announced yet.
- Extra: travel to the interview (for Ukrainian citizens – Warsaw or Kraków), lodging, photos and, if you want, professional help.
- The DS-160 form is free. Anyone charging to “register your form” or “guaranteeing a visa” is a middleman or a scammer.
🎬 How to pay the $185 US visa fee: video guide
⚠️ Recorded July 18, 2025. Fees, dates and rules may have changed since then: the current figures are in the text of this page (updated 26 Oct 2026).
⏱ In this video (timestamps) (9)
- 0:00Intro: how to pay the visa fee
- 0:15Choosing the interview country and starting registration
- 0:41Creating an account and security questions
- 2:12Interview language and country
- 2:34Contact and passport details
- 4:11Visa type, embassy and DS-160 number
- 5:07Adding a second person to the case
- 6:49Choosing passport pickup or delivery
- 8:34Fee amount and card payment
📝 Video summary
- Viewers learn how to choose the interview country and start registration on the site for paying the visa fee.
- The video shows how to create an account: enter a correct email address, choose three security questions and confirm the code sent by email.
- It explains which contact and passport details to enter and that they must be entered with great care.
- It describes choosing the visa type, embassy and category, and entering the DS-160 application number, which must be completed before payment.
- It shows how to add a second person or a child to the case and select how to receive the passport after visa approval.
- It explains how to choose payment by credit or debit card, enter the payer's details and save the payment receipt.
💵 US visa consular fees
The consular fee (MRV) is paid before the interview and is not refunded if you are refused. State Department amounts in US dollars:
| Visa | Purpose | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Tourism, visiting, medical, business meetings | $185 |
| F-1, M-1, J-1 | Study, exchange | $185 + SEVIS |
| H-1B, L, O, P, R | Petition-based work | $205 |
| E-1, E-2 | Investors, trade | $315 |
| K-1 | Fiancé(e)s | $265 |
The law introduced a $250 Visa Integrity Fee for nonimmigrant visas, but as of 10/25/2026 no official collection procedure has been announced. We are tracking it and will update this table.
🛂 How much a B1/B2 tourist visa costs
💳How much do I pay for a B1/B2 visa and where?+
$185 is the consular (MRV) fee. You pay it after completing the DS-160 and before booking the interview, through the embassy’s official appointment system. The receipt is valid for 365 days from payment: you must book your interview within that time.
↩️Do I get my money back if refused?+
No. The fee pays for processing, not for the result. A new attempt means a new DS-160 and a new fee. More: 214(b) refusal: reasons and next steps.
👨👩👧How much does a visa cost for a family with children?+
Every applicant pays separately, including children: a family of 4 on B1/B2 pays 4 × $185 = $740 in consular fees alone. There are no child discounts.
🧾 Extra costs people forget
🚆Travel and lodging for the interview+
Since 09/06/2025 you interview in your country of citizenship or residence. Ukrainian citizens are seen at the US Embassy in Warsaw and the Consulate General in Kraków, see the B1/B2 guide. Budget for travel, 1–2 nights of lodging and possibly a second trip if your passport is not returned right away. Amounts depend on your city, so we do not give a single number.
🎓Student visa: SEVIS and proof of funds+
On top of the $185 consular fee comes the SEVIS I-901 fee: $350 for F-1 and M-1 (for most J-1 – $220). Pay it at fmjfee.com before the interview. The consul also checks that you can cover tuition and living costs for the first year, see F-1 student visa.
💍K-1 fiancé(e) visa: USCIS fees and medical exam+
First the US citizen partner files I-129F: $675 (USCIS). Then you pay the $265 consular fee and take a medical exam with an embassy panel physician (the clinic sets the price). After the wedding in the US there are separate green card fees. More: family immigration.
💼Work visa: who pays what+
For work visas (H-1B, L, O, P, R) you pay a $205 consular fee. The I-129 petition and related USCIS fees are usually paid by the employer. More: work visas.
🧾Photos, translations, insurance+
The DS-160 photo is uploaded digitally, so no prints are needed. Employment and bank letters are best in English or with a translation. The consul does not require travel medical insurance, but care in the US is very expensive, so it is worth it.
💡 How not to overpay for a visa
🔒Where to pay so you avoid middlemen+
The DS-160 is free at ceac.state.gov. The fee is paid only through the official appointment system linked from the embassy website. Sites charging an “application submission fee” or selling “slots” are middlemen and sometimes scammers.
🚫A “guaranteed visa” is a scam+
Only the consul issues a visa at the interview. Nobody can guarantee it, not an agency, not a lawyer. Pay for document preparation and advice, not for a “result”.
🔁Do not reapply right after a refusal+
A new attempt = a new $185 fee. If nothing has changed, the result will most likely be the same. First work out why you were refused.
🏨Flights and hotel – only refundable+
Do not buy non-refundable tickets or hotels before you have the visa. A rough travel plan is enough for the form.
💡 In short: what helps and what to avoid
✅ What helps
3
- Pay only on official State Department and embassy sites.
- Book the interview within 365 days of paying the fee.
- Budget for travel to the interview and a spare day.
⛔ What to avoid
3
- Paying to “register the form” on third-party sites.
- Believing in a “guaranteed visa”.
- Buying non-refundable tickets before the visa.
We will cost out your trip and prepare you for the interview
We will tell you which visa fits, how much it will cost you, and help with the DS-160. Only the consul issues visas, so we do not guarantee the result.
This page is for information only and is not legal advice. We are not lawyers and are not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. Department of State.
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