US B1/B2 Visa Fees: Application, Reciprocity, and I-94

B1/B2 visa fees start at $185 for the application itself, paid to the U.S. Department of State before your consular interview. Depending on your nationality, an additional reciprocity fee may be due if the visa is approved, and travelers entering at a land border pay a separate $30 I-94 fee. Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries can often skip the visa entirely and pay $21 for an ESTA instead.1U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Visa Waiver Program

The $185 Application Fee

Every B1/B2 applicant pays a $185 Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee before scheduling an interview.2U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services The amount is the same whether you apply for a B1 (business), a B2 (tourism or medical treatment), or a combined B1/B2. Federal regulations set the $185 rate for all non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa categories except the E treaty trader and investor classification.3eCFR. 22 CFR 22.1

This fee is nonrefundable. If the consular officer denies your visa, you do not get the $185 back.2U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services It also cannot be transferred to another person if you cancel your plans. Once paid, the receipt is valid only for a limited window. If you do not schedule and attend your interview before it expires, you pay again. Many embassies set that window at one year, though the exact period varies by location.

Payment methods depend on where you apply. Most embassies accept credit or debit card payments through their appointment scheduling website, and many also allow cash deposits at designated local banks using a printed slip with a unique reference number. Online payments usually post immediately. Cash or bank transfer payments may take a business day to clear before you can book an interview slot.4U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria. Important Visa Information – Section: Payment Methods and Details Keep the receipt. The transaction number on it is your proof of payment and the key to the appointment calendar.

Reciprocity Fees by Country

Some applicants owe a second charge on top of the $185, but only if the visa is approved. This is the reciprocity or issuance fee, and it exists because the United States mirrors whatever a foreign government charges American citizens for a comparable visa.5U.S. Department of State. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country If your country charges Americans $100 for a tourist visa, you pay $100 on top of the application fee.

Because the reciprocity fee is collected after the interview, you owe nothing extra if your application is denied.5U.S. Department of State. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country The amount can range from zero to several hundred dollars and often correlates with your visa’s validity and number of permitted entries. A higher reciprocity charge from your country may come with a longer visa or more entries; a low or zero fee often means shorter validity or single-entry limits.

Look up the figure for your nationality on the Department of State’s online reciprocity tables, which list every country alongside fee amounts, visa validity, and entries permitted.6U.S. Department of State. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country Check them before your interview so the total does not catch you off guard.

The $30 I-94 Fee at Land Borders

Travelers entering the United States at a land border crossing pay a separate $30 fee for the I-94 arrival and departure record, regardless of visa type. The fee rose from $6 to $30 on September 30, 2025.7Federal Register. CBP Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 for Fiscal Year 2025 You can apply for the I-94 in person at the border, online, or through the CBP One mobile app.8USAGov. Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record for U.S. Visitors

Air and sea travelers do not pay this fee separately. It is bundled into the airline or cruise ticket and the I-94 is processed electronically. If you plan to drive or walk in from Canada or Mexico, budget for the $30 on top of your visa costs.

ESTA: The Cheaper Route for Visa Waiver Countries

Citizens of the 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program do not need a B1/B2 visa for short trips.1U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Visa Waiver Program They can apply instead for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which costs $21 total: a $4 processing fee plus a $17 authorization fee if approved.9USAGov. Visa Waiver Program and ESTA Application That is $164 less than the B1/B2 application fee alone, before any reciprocity charges.

ESTA has limits. It authorizes stays of up to 90 days per visit and cannot be extended once you are in the country. If you need longer than 90 days, or if your purpose falls outside business or tourism, you need the full B1/B2 visa. Anyone denied an ESTA must apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.1U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Visa Waiver Program For a two-week vacation or a quick meeting, though, ESTA is the faster and cheaper path for eligible nationalities.

Renewals and the Interview Waiver

Not every applicant pays for an in-person interview slot. If you are renewing a B1/B2 within 12 months of your previous visa’s expiration, you may qualify for an interview waiver, sometimes called the dropbox option. Your prior visa must have been issued for full validity when originally granted, and you must have been at least 18 at the time.10U.S. Department of State. Interview Waiver Update September 18, 2025

You also must apply from your country of nationality or usual residence, have no prior visa refusals that were not overcome, and have no apparent grounds for ineligibility.10U.S. Department of State. Interview Waiver Update September 18, 2025 The waiver does not reduce the $185 fee. You pay the same amount. What it can save is time at embassies with long interview backlogs. Applicants under 14 or over 79 also generally qualify for a waiver regardless of prior visa history.

Smaller Costs to Budget For

A few incidentals can push your total higher:

  • Visa photo: most pharmacies and photo shops charge roughly $10 to $20.
  • Document translations, if your supporting documents are not in English: typically $18 to $70 per page.
  • Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, if a U.S.-based host is covering your trip. The form itself is free to file, but notarization and translation of the sponsor’s supporting documents may cost extra.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-134, Declaration of Financial Support

The I-134 is not mandatory for B1/B2 applicants, but it can strengthen your case when someone else is funding the visit.

Putting the Total Together

The $185 application fee is the only guaranteed cost. Everything else depends on your nationality, how you enter the United States, and whether you need supporting documents translated or notarized:

Check the reciprocity tables for your country before you start so you know the full picture, and remember that a denial costs you the full $185 with nothing to show for it. Confirming eligibility and preparing documents carefully is the cheapest form of insurance against paying twice.