USA Visa Application Fee
Applicants including children have to pay the US Visa application fees. The amount depends on the category of visa. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable and is valid for a year. The number of times one can reschedule the appointment is limited so the applicant needs to plan the visa interview date carefully. The payment of fee does not guarantee that a US visa will be issued. After the payment of fees, a receipt will be issued that includes the date of payment. A year from the date of payment the receipt will expire.
Applicants from India do not need to pay visa issuance fee as India does not charge the same to US citizens after issuing visa to them. Visa issuance fee is an act of reciprocity on the part of US and is charged for the citizens of those countries that charge a fee after the issue of visa.
In order to ensure that correct amount is paid and activated in a timely manner the applicant is asked to create a profile on ustraveldocs website.
On the payment confirmation screen different payment options and further details of payment are shown. It can take 2 days from the time of payment for the US visa fee receipt to get activated. You will require the US Visa fee receipt number to make an appointment for US Visa.
Nonimmigrant visa application processing fee (non-refundable) for all categories below
- Non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa (except E visa): $160.00 ( As On March 21, 2013).
Includes (but not limited to), the following visa categories:
Petition based visa categories: $190.00
(A petition must be field for pre approval, before applicant can go for Visa. )
Includes the following visa categories:
- E - Treaty Trader/Investor, Australian Professional Specialty category visa: $270.00
- K – Fiance(e) or Spouse of U.S. citizen category visa: $240.00
Other Fees
- L visa fraud prevention and detection fee - for visa applicant included in L blanket petition (principal applicant only): $500.00
See complete US visa fee details at Dept of state website.
Non-immigrant Visa Application Fee Exemptions:
Certain applicants may not need to pay an MRV fee:
- If you are applying for an official travel, and for A, G, C-3, NATO, and other diplomatic visas.
- Applicants (and their families) exempted by international agreement including members and staff of an observer mission to United Nations Headquarters recognized by the UN General Assembly.
- If you are applying for J visa to participate in a U.S. Government-sponsored program.
- If you are a citizen of Canada or Bermuda (but not applying for an A, E, G, K or V visa category), you may not need a visa.
- If there is a re-issuance of visa through no fault of the applicant.
- Applicants traveling to provide certain charitable services as determined by the Visa Services.
- US Government employees traveling on official business.
- A parent, child, sibling, or spouse of a U.S. Government employee killed in the line of duty, and who are traveling to attend the employee’s funeral and/or burial.
- The USA Visa fee is waived if a parent, sibling, spouse, and a son or daughter of a U.S. Government employee wants to visit him since he is critically injured in the line of duty.
Visa Issuance Fee
All applicants are required to pay the MRV fee. United States charges an additional fee to those countries that charge a Visa Issuance fee after the visa is issued. Visa issuance fee is an act of reciprocity on the part of US and is charged for the citizens of those countries that charge a fee after the issue of visa. Currently there is no visa issuance fee applicable for Indian citizens as India does not charge the same to US citizens after issuing visa to them.
See the Visa Reciprocity Tables to find out the visa issuance fee if it is applicable to your country.
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