US visa resources

US Visa & ESTA Fees

A plain-English guide to what US travel authorisations and immigration applications cost, from the MRV visa fee and ESTA to USCIS filing and SEVIS charges.

Official guidance Regularly updated

Important

This information is for general guidance only. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee your application will be approved.

The cost of coming to the United States depends entirely on which route you take. A short business or tourist trip under the Visa Waiver Program carries only a small ESTA charge, while a full visa application means paying the machine-readable visa (MRV) processing fee, and an immigration or status-change case filed inside the country means paying US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Each of these is a separate charge, collected by a different agency, and most are non-refundable whether or not your request is approved.

Fees change regularly, and several US charges have moved recently. The figures below reflect the position as of the access date shown, but you should always confirm the current amount on the official government page before you pay. Just as important: pay only through official government channels. Third-party sites that resell ESTA or visa services often add large mark-ups for information and forms you can access for free.

The MRV visa application fee

Almost everyone applying for a US visa abroad pays the MRV (machine-readable visa) processing fee to the Department of State. It is charged per applicant, is non-refundable, and does not guarantee a visa. The amount depends on the visa category rather than your nationality.

185 USD - most non-petition nonimmigrant visas, including B-1/B-2 visitor, F and M student, and J exchange-visitor visas.
205 USD - petition-based work visas such as H, L, O, P, Q and R.
315 USD - E-category treaty trader and treaty investor visas.
Reciprocity (issuance) fees may apply on top for some nationalities and categories - these vary country by country and are set to mirror what the other country charges US citizens.
Confirm the current amounts on the Department of State fees page before paying.

ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program

Travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries do not need a visa for short business or tourism stays, but must hold an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). The ESTA charge rose in stages during 2025-2026: the core authorisation fee increased from 21 USD to 40 USD on 30 September 2025 under new legislation, and with an inflation adjustment the total payable is 40.27 USD effective 1 January 2026.

Apply and pay only at the official CBP site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov. An approved ESTA is generally valid for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

ESTA total fee: 40.27 USD (as of the access date).
Pay only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov - avoid third-party resellers.
Confirm the current fee on CBP's official ESTA pages before applying.

USCIS filing fees (applications inside the US)

If you file an immigration benefit or status request while in the United States, you pay USCIS filing fees. A major fee schedule took effect on 1 April 2024, and many forms now offer a discount for filing online rather than on paper. Common examples:

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative: 675 USD (paper) / 625 USD (online).
I-485 Application to Adjust Status (green card): 1,440 USD - and filing an accompanying work permit or travel document may add cost.
N-400 Application for Naturalization: 760 USD (paper) / 710 USD (online); reduced fees may apply on lower incomes.
I-539 (change or extend nonimmigrant status), I-765 (employment authorisation) and I-129 (petition for a worker, which varies by classification) each carry their own fees.
Use the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) or fee calculator to confirm the exact current amount for your form and filing method.

SEVIS I-901 fee for students and exchange visitors

Students and exchange visitors in the F, M and J categories must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, which funds the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. This is entirely separate from, and paid in addition to, the MRV visa fee. Pay it after you receive your Form I-20 (or DS-2019) and before your visa interview, at the official site fmjfee.com. Keep the receipt - the SEVIS ID on it must match your I-20.

The exact I-901 amount differs between F/M students and J exchange visitors, and can change; confirm the current figure on the official ICE SEVIS pages before paying.

Other charges to plan for

Beyond the headline visa and authorisation fees, several routes carry their own specific charges. Because these change and vary by case, treat the figures below as a starting point and verify on the official page.

H-1B: an electronic registration fee of 215 USD per beneficiary applies during the annual cap season (the cap is 65,000 plus a further 20,000 for US master's degree holders).
EB-5 immigrant investor: the qualifying investment is 800,000 USD in a targeted employment area or 1,050,000 USD otherwise, under the 2022 Reform and Integrity Act.
Affidavit / Declaration of Support: Form I-864 (immigrant visas) is tied to the annual HHS Poverty Guidelines, generally 125 percent of the relevant figure; Form I-134 is used for some nonimmigrants.
Budget separately for medical exams, biometrics where required, translations, courier and photo costs - these are paid to providers, not the government.

Next steps

Official sources

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.

Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-20. Information only — not legal advice.