US Visitor Visa Cost and Fees

Quick answer

The main US visitor visa cost is the MRV application fee, currently 185 USD. It rises to 205 USD on 30 May 2026. Some travelers also pay a reciprocity fee if approved. Confirm all current fees on travel.state.gov.

The MRV application fee

The MRV fee is the main government fee for a B1/B2 visitor visa. You pay it when you apply. Right now it is 185 USD. It is scheduled to go up to 205 USD on 30 May 2026, so the amount you pay depends on when you apply.

Two things are important to know about this fee:

• It is non-refundable. You do not get it back if your visa is refused.
• You pay it whether or not the visa is issued. It covers the processing of your case, not the result.

Because the fee can change, always check the current amount on travel.state.gov before you pay.

Reciprocity (issuance) fees

Some nationalities pay a second government fee called a visa issuance fee, also known as a reciprocity fee. This is different from the MRV fee.

Here is how it works:

• You only pay it if your visa is approved.
• The amount depends on your nationality.
• Many travelers pay nothing here, because the fee is based on how each country treats US citizens.

To find out if a reciprocity fee applies to you and how much it is, look up your country on travel.state.gov. That is the official source and it is kept up to date.

The Visa Integrity Fee (not yet collected)

You may have read about a new Visa Integrity Fee of 250 USD. This fee was created by a 2025 law. It is real in the sense that it was enacted.

But as of early 2026, it was not yet being collected. So most applicants have not been charged this fee at all.

Because the situation can change, do not assume you will or will not pay it. Check travel.state.gov for the current status before you budget for your trip.

What Code X Elite costs vs government fees

It helps to keep two kinds of cost separate.

First, there are government fees. These are the MRV fee, any reciprocity fee, and any future fee the government collects. You always pay these directly to the government. We never collect them for you.

Second, there is our service fee. Code X Elite charges a separate flat fee to prepare your documents. You pay us for the preparation work, not for the visa itself.

Here is what the flat fee gives you:

• One clear price for document preparation, set in advance, with no surprise add-ons.
• Help organizing your paperwork so it is neat and complete before you submit.
• A simpler process, so you spend less time guessing what to gather.

A few things to be clear about. We are a document-preparation service. We are not lawyers, and we do not give legal advice. You submit your own application, and you pay all government fees yourself. The DS-160 form itself is free on the government site.

You can see our service and pricing on our US visitor visa page.

How to pay

Government fees and our service fee are paid in different places.

• You pay the MRV fee through the official process on travel.state.gov and the linked payment steps for your country. Keep your receipt, because you need it to book your interview.
• If a reciprocity fee applies, you pay it only after approval, through the official channel for your case.
• You pay our flat service fee to Code X Elite when you start your document preparation with us.

The DS-160 is filled out for free on the government site. If you want help getting your documents ready first, you can start your application with us.

Frequently asked questions

Is the MRV fee refundable if I am refused?

No. The MRV fee is non-refundable. You pay it to have your case processed, and you do not get it back if the visa is refused. Confirm the current amount on travel.state.gov before you pay.

Will everyone pay the 250 USD Visa Integrity Fee?

Not right now. The fee was enacted in 2025 law, but as of early 2026 it was not yet being collected. Check travel.state.gov for the current status.

Does Code X Elite charge the government fees too?

No. Our flat fee is only for preparing your documents. You always pay government fees directly to the government yourself.

Ready to start

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Code X Elite is a document-preparation service, not a law firm. You submit your own application and pay all government fees directly to the government. Fees change, so always confirm the current amounts on travel.state.gov.

Want a clear, flat-fee way to get your documents ready? Read our step-by-step guide to applying, or start your B1/B2 preparation today.