US visa fees: telling the two fees apart
Direct answer: The State Department says most applicants pay the MRV visa application fee — non-refundable, and paid whether the visa is approved or refused, to cover processing. That is different from the reciprocity (issuance) fee, which is separate and charged only to approved nonimmigrant applicants after the interview, by nationality. Amounts change, so check the official fees page (the non-petition rate, e.g. B1/B2, is currently $185).
Source: Fees for Visa Services
The MRV application fee: non-refundable, paid either way
The State Department says the nonimmigrant visa application fee (the MRV fee) is a non-refundable fee paid by most U.S. visa applicants, whether the application is approved or refused, and covers the cost of processing the application.
Amounts vary by visa category and change over time (the last increase took effect June 17, 2023). The official fees page currently lists roughly: non-petition categories (B for business/tourism/medical, F, J, M, C-1, D, I, TN/TD) $185; petition-based (H, L, O, P, Q, R) $205; E (treaty trader/investor) $315; K (fiancé(e)/spouse of a U.S. citizen) $265. Always confirm the current amount on the official Fees for Visa Services page.
- MRV = a processing fee: non-refundable, not returned on refusal.
- Amount is by category and changes — go by the official fees page.
- A, G, C-2/3, NATO and diplomatic categories are generally exempt.
Source: Fees for Visa Services
The reciprocity (issuance) fee: separate, only for approvals, by nationality
The State Department says a reciprocity (visa issuance) fee may be charged in addition to the MRV fee. The principle is reciprocity: when a foreign government charges U.S. citizens for a visa category, the U.S. charges that country's citizens the equivalent for the same category.
The key difference: the MRV fee is paid up front by nearly everyone regardless of outcome, whereas the reciprocity fee is charged 'only to an approved nonimmigrant visa applicant after the visa interview,' at an amount set by nationality — look it up in the State Department's Reciprocity by Country table. So 'how much is a U.S. visa' has no single answer: first the MRV fee for your category, then any reciprocity fee for your nationality.
- The reciprocity fee is separate from the MRV fee, by reciprocity and nationality.
- Charged only to approved applicants, after the interview (MRV is paid up front).
- Look up the amount in the official Reciprocity by Country table.
Source: Fees for Visa Services · Reciprocity by Country
Keep practice in its proper boundary
Fee amounts and whether a reciprocity fee applies are governed by the official fees page and the post where you apply; VisaIsle only offers mock-interview practice, does not collect fees, and cannot reduce or expedite them. Any claim of 'guaranteed approval' or 'insider fee discounts' is unrelated to the official process — rely on the travel.state.gov pages.
Source: Fees for Visa Services
Official sources
Updated 2026-07-20