Visa Fee Calculator

Look up US visa application fees by visa type and nationality.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated April 2026 · Source: USCIS

Employer Size

Filing Fee

$3,380.00

Estimated Total

$10,345.00

Fee Breakdown

I-129 base filing fee$780.00
Asylum Program Fee$600.00
Fraud Prevention & Detection Fee$500.00
ACWIA (training) fee$1,500.00
USCIS Filing Fee$3,380.00
Premium Processing (optional)$2,965.00
Attorney Estimate$4,000.00
Estimated Total$10,345.00

Excludes the $215 electronic registration fee (paid before filing) and, for large employers with more than 50 employees and over half on H-1B/L-1 status, an additional $4,000 fee (Public Law 114-113). Nonprofit research and higher-education petitioners are exempt from the ACWIA fee.

Use the Visa Fee Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

US visa fees are easy to underestimate because the headline application charge is rarely the whole story. This estimator pins down the 2026 cost for your specific visa type and nationality so you can budget the full amount up front and avoid surprises that stall an application, particularly in a year when fee schedules may shift.

Behind the result is a database of US Department of State visa fees read against nationality-specific reciprocity agreements and surcharges. The base fee for your category, whether B1/B2, H1B, or F1, is looked up first, then adjusted for any reciprocity fee or additional charge tied to your country of citizenship, so the figure shown reflects the total payable under the 2026 rules.

Confirm the amount on the official US Department of State website or directly with the embassy or consulate before you pay, since fees can change without notice. Some categories also carry separate processing or premium processing charges that sit outside the base application fee. And the cost is not uniform across nationalities, reciprocity fees can move the final total substantially depending on where you hold citizenship.

Example: Indian National Applying for an H1B Visa in 2026

  1. 1 **Step 1: Select Visa Type and Nationality** * **Visa Type:** H1B (Specialty Occupation Worker) * **Nationality:** India
  2. 2 **Step 2: Calculation** * The base H1B application fee for 2026 is projected to be $205. * For Indian nationals, there is a reciprocity fee that can vary, but for this example, let's assume an additional $200. * This example does not include the USCIS filing fees for the petition, only the consular processing fee.
  3. 3 **Step 3: Result** * The estimated total US visa application fee for an Indian national applying for an H1B visa in 2026, for consular processing, is $405.
  4. 4 **Step 4: Context** * This fee is for the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application. It does not include the USCIS petition filing fees which are paid by the employer in the US. * Always verify the exact reciprocity fee on the Department of State's website for the most current information for your specific situation.

Source: USCIS · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a US tourist visa cost?
The B-1/B-2 tourist and business visa application fee is $185. This is non-refundable regardless of whether the visa is approved. Some nationalities may also pay a visa issuance (reciprocity) fee that varies by country.
What is the visa reciprocity fee?
Some countries charge US citizens for visas, so the US charges their citizens a reciprocity fee in addition to the standard application fee. The amount varies by country and visa type. Check the State Department's reciprocity schedule for your nationality.
Are visa fees refundable if denied?
No. The Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. If denied, you must pay the fee again for any new application. The fee is valid for one year from the date of payment.