A B1/B2 visitor visa costs $185 in mandatory application fees, paid to the U.S. government before your consular interview. Depending on your nationality, you may owe an additional reciprocity fee after the visa is approved, and small charges for passport courier delivery are possible. The $185 is the same for business travel (B1), tourism or family visits (B2), and the combined B1/B2 visa most applicants receive.
What the $185 Application Fee Covers
Every applicant pays the $185 nonimmigrant visa application processing fee, sometimes called the Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee. Children pay the same amount as adults. There is no family discount, no age discount, and no reduction for applying in a group.
The fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable.1U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services If the consular officer denies your visa, the $185 is gone. If you change your mind and skip the interview, it’s still gone. You cannot pass the payment to another person or move it to a different visa category. What you’re paying for is the processing of the application and the interview itself, not the visa sticker.
The amount is set by federal regulation under the schedule of fees in 22 CFR § 22.1.2eCFR. 22 CFR 22.1 – Schedule of Fees The State Department adjusts it through rulemaking, so confirm the current amount on the department’s fee page before you pay.
The Reciprocity Fee
Some applicants owe a second fee after approval. Reciprocity fees mirror what other countries charge U.S. citizens for comparable travel documents, so the amount depends entirely on your nationality. It can be zero. It can also run into the hundreds of dollars.
Unlike the application fee, the reciprocity fee is collected only if your visa is approved.1U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services A denial means you don’t pay it. Check the Department of State’s reciprocity tables for your country and the B1/B2 category before your interview so nothing surprises you at the window.3U.S. Department of State. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country
Other Costs You Might Face
Once the visa is approved, the consulate holds your passport briefly to print the visa inside. Getting it back means either picking it up in person or paying for courier delivery, and the arrangement depends on the consulate. Some locations include return delivery in the process; others charge a separate courier fee. If you don’t collect your passport within the delivery window (often around 15 days), it goes back to the consulate and you’ll need to arrange pickup again.
Reapplication after a denial is the other cost worth planning for. A refusal doesn’t credit anything back; a new attempt means another full $185.4U.S. Department of State. Visa Denials The one exception is a refusal under Section 221(g), which signals that the consulate needs additional documents or administrative processing rather than a final no. In that case, your existing fee typically stays valid while you provide what was requested.
How Long Your Payment Stays Valid
After you pay the $185, you have 365 days to schedule and attend your interview. Miss that window and the payment expires. Restarting means paying the full fee again, and there are no extensions.
A Cheaper Option: ESTA Under the Visa Waiver Program
If you hold citizenship from one of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, you likely don’t need a B1/B2 visa at all for a short trip. An Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) costs $40.27, is filed online, and skips the consular interview entirely.5U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Official ESTA Application Website
ESTA has limits the visa doesn’t. Each visit is capped at 90 days, and the authorization is good for two years. A B1/B2 visa can be issued for up to 10 years depending on your nationality, and a CBP officer can admit you for up to six months per visit.6U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Visa Waiver Program If you’re eligible and only need short stays, ESTA saves both money and time. If you need longer stays or a document that lasts, the B1/B2 is worth its higher cost.
One boundary to note: qualifying for an interview waiver on a renewal doesn’t reduce the fee.7U.S. Department of State. Interview Waiver Update September 18, 2025 Whether you sit for an interview or not, the $185 is the same.
How and Where to Pay
Payment methods vary by consulate. Some locations accept credit cards through the online scheduling portal, others require a cash deposit at a designated local bank, and some allow both. The specifics are posted on the appointment scheduling website for the embassy or consulate where you plan to interview. There is no single global payment portal.
Once payment clears, you’ll get a receipt number. Keep it. That number is what unlocks the interview scheduling calendar and lets you book your appointment. Credit card payments usually process instantly; cash deposits at a bank can take a business day or two to appear in the system. Bring the receipt with you on interview day along with your passport and DS-160 confirmation page, because consulate security often checks for it before letting you inside.
Total Cost at a Glance
- Application fee: $185, paid by every applicant, nonrefundable regardless of outcome.
- Reciprocity fee: $0 to several hundred dollars depending on nationality, charged only if the visa is approved.
- Passport courier delivery: varies by consulate, typically a modest fee where offered.
- Reapplication after denial: another $185 per attempt, unless the refusal was a 221(g) request for more information.