Visa Application Fee FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

Most nonimmigrant visa applicants must pay an MRV application fee using the procedure established by the embassy, consulate, or official appointment service handling the case. The timing of payment varies by location, so applicants should follow the local instructions rather than assume a single worldwide sequence. This fee is easy to confuse with other, separate charges — the SEVIS fee, reciprocity fees, and the newer Visa Integrity Fee

— that may also apply depending on your visa category and nationality. This guide answers the most common questions about the visa application fee specifically: how much it costs by category, how to pay it, whether it’s refundable, and how it differs from the other fees you may encounter during the process.

What Is the Visa Application Fee (MRV Fee)?

The Visa Application Fee — also called the MRV fee, short for Machine-Readable Visa fee — is a nonimmigrant visa processing fee charged by the U.S. Department of State. According to the Department of State’s Fees for Visa Services page, most applicants for a nonimmigrant visa must pay this fee for the category being applied for, unless they qualify for one of the specific exceptions listed below. The fee covers the cost of processing the application and is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application.

How Much Does the Visa Application Fee Cost?

The fee is tiered by visa category. The current MRV fee tiers took effect on June 17, 2023, and remain the amounts published by the Department of State as of this update. According to the Department of State’s own announcement of that fee change and its current fee schedule, the amounts are:

• $185 — Non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa categories (except E). This includes B (Visitor: Business, Tourism, Medical treatment), C-1 (Transiting the U.S.), D (Crewmembers), F (Student, Academic), I (Media and Journalists), J (Exchange Visitors), M (Students, Vocational), TN/TD (NAFTA/USMCA Professionals), and S, T, and U visas (though technically petition-based, these carry the $185 fee).
• $205 — Petition-based visa categories: H (Temporary Workers/Trainees), L (Intracompany Transferees), O (Extraordinary Ability), P (Athletes, Artists & Entertainers), Q (International Cultural Exchange), and R (Religious Workers).
• $315 — E visas (Treaty Trader/Investor, and the Australian E-3 Professional Specialty category).
• $265 — K visas (Fiancé(e) or Spouse of a U.S. citizen).

Important: J visa applicants participating in official U.S. government-sponsored educational and cultural exchange programs pay no fee. Other categories that are exempt from the visa application fee entirely include A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, and diplomatic visas, as defined in 22 CFR 41.26.

Because these fees can change, always confirm the current amount on the Department of State’s official Fees for Visa Services page before paying, rather than relying on a fixed figure from any third-party source, including this one.

The Department of State fee schedule also lists separate situational charges, including Border Crossing Card fees and a $500 fraud-prevention fee for the principal applicant in certain blanket L cases. These charges are not part of the standard MRV tiers shown above.

How Can I Pay the Visa Application Fee?

Payment methods are not standardized worldwide. Depending on the country, the authorized system may use an online payment portal, a designated bank, cash collection, electronic transfer, or another locally approved channel. Use only the payment instructions linked from the embassy, consulate, or official visa appointment service handling your application — do not assume that a method available in one country applies everywhere.

Is the Visa Application Fee Refundable?

No. According to the Department of State’s own visa FAQ page, the visa application fee is non-refundable “regardless of whether you are issued a visa or not, since your application was processed to conclusion.” This applies even if your visa is refused — for example, under Section 214(b) — and even if you decide not to proceed with your application after paying. If you choose to reapply for a visa after a refusal, whether at the same post or a different one, you will be required to pay the visa application processing fee again. The fee is also generally non-transferable to another applicant.

How Long Is My Visa Application Fee Receipt Valid?

This is an area where outdated information circulates widely, so it’s worth being precise. The central Department of State pages reviewed for this update do not state one current receipt-validity period that applies worldwide. A Department of State notice issued in 2023 addressed a specific group of COVID-era receipts paid before October 1, 2022, and required appointments or interview-waiver requests to be scheduled by September 30, 2023. That closed policy should not be treated as a standing worldwide rule.

Follow the validity, scheduling, and rescheduling rules shown in the official appointment system or embassy instructions for the country where the fee was paid, rather than assuming a fixed period such as “one year” applies everywhere.

Do I Need to Pay Again if I Reschedule My Interview?

Whether an existing receipt can be reused after an appointment change depends on the official scheduling system and the instructions for the location where the application is being processed. Do not assume that a receipt can be moved between applicants, countries, or appointment accounts. If the official system marks it as expired or unusable, a new payment may be required.

How Do I Verify That My Payment Was Processed Correctly?

Payment confirmation procedures depend on the system your embassy or consulate uses. In general, applicants can check their payment status through the online scheduling or application system associated with their post, or by contacting the embassy or consulate directly if a payment does not appear to be reflected after a reasonable processing time. Keep any payment receipt or confirmation you receive, since you may be asked to present it when scheduling your interview or at the interview itself.

What Should I Do If I Made a Mistake When Paying?

Common payment errors include selecting the wrong visa category, paying an incorrect amount, or using a payment method that isn’t authorized by your specific post. If this happens, contact your U.S. embassy or consulate directly and as soon as possible. Because the fee is non-refundable and generally non-transferable, errors can be costly: in many cases, correcting a mistaken payment may require paying the correct fee again rather than receiving a refund or credit for the original payment. Review your visa category and payment details carefully before submitting payment to avoid this situation.

Are There Discounts or Exemptions for the Visa Application Fee?

Examples of categories and circumstances for which no MRV application fee may be required include:

• Applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, and diplomatic visas, as defined in 22 CFR 41.26.
• J visa applicants participating in official U.S. government-sponsored educational and cultural exchange programs.
• Applicants needing a replacement machine-readable visa when the original was not properly affixed or needs reissuance through no fault of the applicant.
• Certain applicants exempted by international agreement, including members and staff of observer missions to international organizations.
• Certain charitable-purpose travel, U.S. government employees traveling on official business, and certain family members of U.S. government employees who died or were seriously injured in the line of duty, as specified in the Department of State’s fee schedule.

This is not an exhaustive list. Verify the complete current exemptions on the Department of State fee schedule and with the post handling your application.

How Is the Visa Application Fee Different From Other U.S. Visa-Related Fees?

This is one of the most common sources of confusion, because applicants can be asked to pay several different fees during the visa process, each administered differently and collected at a different stage.

Visa Application Fee (MRV fee). Covered throughout this article. Collected by the Department of State for most nonimmigrant visa categories, non-refundable, and generally non-transferable.

Reciprocity fee. A separate, additional fee that some — not all — applicants must pay, based on bilateral visa reciprocity agreements between the United States and the applicant’s country of nationality. Unlike the MRV fee, the reciprocity fee (when applicable) is generally paid after a visa is approved, not at the time of application, and the amount varies by country and visa category. Applicants can check whether a reciprocity fee applies to them, and how much it costs, using the Department of State’s Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country tool.

SEVIS fee (Form I-901). Most F, M, and J applicants must also pay a separate I-901 SEVIS fee administered by ICE/SEVP. It is not an MRV fee and is paid through the official SEVIS payment system. Rules, amounts, transfers, corrections, and possible refunds are covered in our dedicated SEVIS Fee FAQs guide.

Visa Integrity Fee. Public Law 119-21 created a separate Visa Integrity Fee tied to the issuance of a nonimmigrant visa and established a statutory minimum of $250 for fiscal year 2025. The official Department of State fee schedule reviewed for this update does not list a current operational amount or payment procedure for this charge, and no complete DOS/DHS reimbursement process was located. Applicants should therefore not treat $250 as a confirmed current collectible amount or assume that a uniform collection procedure is operating.

The practical takeaway: the MRV fee is the one nearly every nonimmigrant applicant pays as part of the standard application process. The other fees described above may or may not apply to you, are administered differently, and are due at different points in the process — don’t assume paying one satisfies another.

Tips to Avoid Issues With the Visa Application Fee

• Confirm the current fee for your specific category on the Department of State’s official fee page before paying.
• Follow the payment instructions published by your specific embassy or consulate — accepted payment methods are not standardized globally.
• Double-check your visa category and payment amount before submitting, since errors are costly given the fee is non-refundable and generally non-transferable.
• Don’t assume a fixed validity window for your receipt — confirm current scheduling and validity rules directly with your post.
• Don’t confuse this fee with the SEVIS fee, reciprocity fee, or Visa Integrity Fee — check whether any of these additional, separate charges also apply to your case.
• Keep your payment confirmation and be ready to present it when scheduling your interview or attending your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay the visa application fee even if I’m ultimately denied a visa?
Yes. The fee covers the cost of processing your application to conclusion, not the outcome. It is non-refundable whether your visa is approved or refused.

Can someone else use my visa application fee receipt if I can’t use it?
Do not assume so. MRV receipts are generally associated with a specific applicant and appointment account. Follow the rules shown in the official scheduling system or instructions for the post where the fee was paid.

If I already paid the SEVIS fee, do I still need to pay the visa application fee?
Not in every case. If your F, M, or J program requires the I-901 SEVIS fee and your visa application is not exempt from the MRV fee, the two charges must be paid separately. Certain U.S. government-sponsored J programs may be exempt from the MRV fee, and SEVIS requirements can also vary by program category. Follow the instructions associated with your Form I-20 or DS-2019.

Where can I find the exact fee for my visa category?
Always check the Department of State’s official Fees for Visa Services page directly, since fee amounts are set by the government and can change.

Practical Takeaways

• Current MRV visa application fees (verified against the Department of State’s June 17, 2023 fee-increase announcement and current fee schedule): $185 for most non-petition-based categories (B, F, M, J, and others), $205 for H/L/O/P/Q/R, $315 for E, and $265 for K.
• The fee is non-refundable and generally non-transferable, regardless of visa outcome.
• A 2023 Department of State notice addressed a closed group of COVID-era receipts; it does not establish a permanent worldwide validity period. Confirm current validity and rescheduling rules with your specific embassy or consulate.
• The MRV fee is legally and administratively distinct from the reciprocity fee (country-specific, typically paid after approval), the SEVIS fee (administered by ICE/SEVP for F/M/J applicants), and the Visa Integrity Fee (a statutory minimum of $250 for FY2025 under Public Law 119-21, tied to visa issuance, with no current operational amount or payment procedure yet published by DOS/DHS).
• Payment methods and rescheduling policies are set at the embassy/consulate level, not globally — always confirm with your specific post.

Sources Referenced in This Article

• U.S. Department of State, Fees for Visa Services — source for current MRV fee amounts by category, fee-exempt categories, border crossing card fees, and related consular service fees.
• U.S. Department of State, Nonimmigrant Visa Fee Increases to Take Effect June 17, 2023 — source confirming the effective date and exact amounts of the current MRV fee tiers ($160→$185, $190→$205, $205→$315 for E), correcting an earlier draft’s incorrect effective date.
• U.S. Department of State, About Visas — The Basics FAQ — source for the non-refundability policy and the requirement to repay the fee upon reapplication after a refusal.
• U.S. Department of State, Expiration of Covid-Era Visa Application Fee Receipts — source confirming the one-time, closed nature of the 2022–2023 receipt expiration policy.
• U.S. Department of State, U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country — source for the existence and mechanics of country-specific reciprocity fees, distinct from the MRV fee.
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), I-901 SEVIS Fee — source confirming the SEVIS fee is separate from visa fees; full detail deferred to the dedicated SEVIS Fee FAQs guide rather than reproduced here.
• Public Law 119-21 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Section 100007) — source for the statutory $250 minimum Visa Integrity Fee tied to nonimmigrant visa issuance for FY2025; noted that DOS/DHS have not yet published a current operational amount, collection process, or reimbursement procedure.