Visa Application Fees

Every type of U.S. immigration visa application has a fee associated with it. The fee will vary depending on the type of visa that is being applied for. Whether applying for a permanent visa or a temporary visa, there will always be at least a basic processing fee.

In most cases, visa fees are paid to the U.S. Department of State at the U.S. embassy or consulate where the foreigner’s case is being processed.

How Much Are the Fees?

Although there are a number of exceptional visas that do not fit into the U.S. Department of State’s formulas, there are three basic categories of visa fees:

1. Temporary visas that are applied for by petition (these are usually filed by employers on behalf of a foreigner that it wishes to hire for a U.S. job)
2. Temporary visas that are not applied for petition
3. Permanent residence visas

Visas that are applied for by petition cost $190.00. This includes all of the visa categories listed below:

• H: Temporary Workers or Trainees
• L: Intracompany Transferees
• O: Persons with Extraordinary Ability
• P: Athletes, Artists and Entertainers
• Q: International Cultural Exchange
• R: Religious Workers

There are special rules for employers who want to hire numerous employees in the H-1B category (professional-level workers) and in the L-1 category (transfers between a U.S. office and a foreign office of the same company). The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 increased fees for certain H-1B and L-1 petitioners. Consular sections collect this extra fee for blanket L-1 visa applications (principal applicant only) and for H-1B and L-1 applications filed by petitioners who employ 50 or more individuals in the United States if more than 50 percent of those individuals are in H-1B or L-1 nonimmigrant status. The amount of the fee is $4,500.00

Visas that are not applied for by petition cost $160.00. This includes the following visa categories:

• B: Visitor Visa: Business, Tourism, Medical Treatment
• C-1: Transiting through the United States
• D: Airline and Ship Crewmembers
• F: Some Students
• I: Media and Journalists
• J: Participants in an International Exchange Program
• M: Some Students, Vocational Studies
• TN: NAFTA Professionals
• S: Witness or Informant
• T: Victim of Human Trafficking
• U: Victim of Criminal Activity

There are two visas that do not fit into the categories listed above:

• E – Treaty Trader/Investor visa: $205.00
• K – Fiancé(e) or Spouse of U.S. citizen category visa: $265.00

Border crossing card fees
There is an alternative to a visa for Mexican citizens. A Border Crossing Card is an identity document used by nationals of Mexico to enter the United States. As a standalone document, the Border Crossing Card allows its holder to visit the border areas of the United States when entering by land or sea directly from Mexico, for up to 30 days. The document also functions as a B-1/B-2 visitor visa when presented with a valid Mexican passport, for entry to any part of the United States by any means of transportation.

Fees for border crossing cards are as follows:

• Border crossing card, age 15 and over (Valid for 10 years): $160.00
• Border crossing card, under age 15, and for Mexican children if the parent or guardian has or is applying for a border crossing card (valid 10 years or until the applicant reaches age 15, whichever is sooner): $15.00

When is a Visa Processing Fee Not Required?

Visa application processing fees are not required for in some special circumstances:

• Applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, and diplomatic visas: No Fee
• Applicants for J visas participating in official U.S. government-sponsored educational and cultural exchanges: No Fee
• Replacement of machine-readable visa when the original visa was not properly affixed or needs to be reissued through no fault of the applicant: No Fee
• Applicants exempted by international agreement as determined by the U.S. Department of State Visa Services, including members and staff of an observer mission to United Nations Headquarters recognized by the UN General
• Assembly and their immediate families: No Fee
• Applicants traveling to provide charitable services as determined by the U.S. Department of State Visa Services: No Fee
• Foreigners who are employees of the U.S. government when they are traveling on official U.S. government business: No Fee
• A parent, sibling, spouse or child of a U.S. government employee killed in the line of duty who is traveling to attend the employee’s funeral and/or burial; or a parent, sibling, spouse, son or daughter of a U.S. government employee critically injured in the line of duty for visitation during emergency treatment and convalescence: No Fee
• Citizens of Visa Waiver Program participating countries: No Fee

Coming to the United States Permanently – Immigrant Services

All of the visas mentioned earlier are temporary visas, meant to last from a few months to several years. When someone wants to move to the United States permanently, they apply for a permanent residence visa. This can be awarded based on a job offer of permanent U.S. employment, or based on the immigrant’s family relationship to a relative who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Immigrant visa application processing fees are tiered, as shown below, based on the visa category you apply for:

Orphan visas (usually, intercountry adoptions) $775.00
Applications based on immediate relatives preference $325.00
Employment-based visa applications $345.00
Certain Iraqi and Afghan special visas No fee
Other immigrant visas $205.00

There are some people who acquire the right to a U.S. permanent residence visa by winning it in the “Diversity Visa Lottery.” A permanent visa granted on this basis costs a different amount: $330.00

Once your application for a visa has been approved, there will be another fee to be paid in order to actually get the green card: $1,140.00.

Other Special Visa Services:

Some permanent residence visa applications require that an Affidavit of Support be filed. That process costs $120.00.
Application for determining returning resident status: $180.00
Transportation letter for legal permanent residents: $575.00
Application for waiver of visa ineligibility: $930.00

What Other Types of Fees can I Expect?

In some cases, a visa application may involve additional fees. These will depend on the type of application, as well as the specific needs or preferences of the applicant. For instance, these can include:

• Biometrics fee (i.e., fingerprints) for people applying for a permanent residence visa from within the U.S.: $85.00
• Medical examination fee for permanent residence visas: Varies (tends to run from $100.00 – $500.00)
• Vaccination fees, if your medical exam indicates those are necessary
• Translation service fees (e.g., for a foreign birth certificate)

Are There Fee Waivers Based On Low Income?

There are various fee waivers available for certain applications. The Department of State makes that determination, at the embassy or consulate. When requesting a fee waiver, you will definitely need to provide documentation in support of the request, such as proof of financial need.

Be aware that fee waiver requests are rarely granted. Two requirements must be met: (1) the applicant must be truly indigent; (2) there must be a great need for the person to travel to or move to the United States.

Do I Need a Lawyer for Help with Visa Application Fees?

Visa application fees are an important part of the application process. You may wish to hire an immigration lawyer if you have any questions, concerns, or legal issues with an immigration visa application.

Your attorney can assist you with your application to ensure that all the requirements are being met and that all the necessary fees are paid, so that there are no unnecessary delays in processing your visa application. Your lawyer can also provide you with representation in the event that you need to attend an immigration hearing.