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How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa

If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. Learn how to get and renew this type of nonimmigrant visa.

To enter the U.S., you must bring a passport issued by your country of citizenship along with your visa. Officials at your port of entry into the U.S. will also issue you a Form I-94, which electronically records your arrival and departure dates. Learn more about Form I-94 and how to apply .

Find out if you need a visa to visit the U.S.

Check to see if your country participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) . If it does, you can get a waiver and will not need a visa. If you do not see your country listed, you will need a visitor visa.

Visitor (tourist) visa

The visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa, is a type of nonimmigrant visa for people who wish to temporarily enter the U.S. There are two categories:

• B-1 for business travel
• B-2 for tourism and medical treatment

Learn about B-1 and B-2 visas , including:

• Reasons you would need each type of visitor visa
• How to apply
• What documents you will need
• Application fees
• How to prepare for your interview at your U.S. embassy or consulate

How to renew a visitor visa

You must renew your visitor visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Only diplomatic visa holders and their dependents can renew their visas within the U.S.

The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State.

Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Visa Traveler

Exploring the world one country at a time

How to schedule US visa appointment: A step-by-step guide

Updated: September 21, 2023

After completing your DS-160, the next step in your visa application is to schedule US visa appointment. This requires paying the visa fee and selecting the location and date for your visa interview. Some countries require an additional appointment for biometrics at a Visa Application Center.

The US visa appointment available dates vary from country to country and location to location. You can check the current wait times for visa appointments at the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.

You can schedule US visa appointment anywhere in the world. If you are traveling and would need to schedule your US visa interview appointment in a third country, you can very well do so.

It is not mandatory to schedule your appointment in the same location as in your DS-160. You are expected to schedule your appointment at the same location. But if you have to attend your visa interview at a different location, you are still allowed to do so.

IMPORTANT You must complete the DS-160 form prior to scheduling your US visa appointment. If you haven’t yet, follow this detailed step-by-step guide on how to fill DS-160 form online for US visa .

Table of Contents

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How to use this step-by-step guide?

There are multiple websites for scheduling US visa appointments. Which website to use depends on the country where you plan to schedule your visa appointment

This step-by-step guide is for using the CGI Federal (US Travel Docs) website. You must use CGI Federal to schedule US visa appointments in Asia, Central America, parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

I have listed out all sections and questions in this guide. For each question, there is a comment explaining what exactly needs to be entered.

Before you start your visa appointment on CGI Federal, go through my comprehensive guide on US visa appointment to understand the eligibility, prerequisites and country-specific appointment portals for scheduling the visa interview.

Who Should Use CGI Federal (US Travel Docs) to Schedule US Visa Appointment

Determine the country where you plan to schedule your US visa appointment. If the country is in the below list, continue with the instructions here.

If the country is not in the below list, you may have to schedule your US visa appointment on AIS US Visa Info , NIV Appointment System or U.S. Visa Scheduling.

• Hong Kong (and Macau)
• Philippines
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka (and Maldives)
• New Zealand
• Czech Republic
• Switzerland (and Liechtenstein)

MIDDLE EAST

• Saudi Arabia
• Burkina Faso
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Egypt (and Yemen)
• Sierra Leone
• Tunisia (and Libya)

CENTRAL AMERICA

• El Salvador
• Dominican Republic

Steps to Schedule US Visa Appointment on CGI Federal (US Travel Docs)

Before you jump into creating your profile and filling out your appointment application, you must first read through the instructions thoroughly. Below are the steps to get to the instructions.

• Head over to the US Travel Docs website
• Select the country from the map where you would like to schedule your appointment
• Select “Yes” to the question “Is this your first time applying for a visa and/or visiting our site?”
• Select “Nonimmigrant” to the question “Are you applying for a nonimmigrant or immigrant visa?”
• Nonimmigrant visa information and instructions will be displayed
• Read through the instructions to familiarize yourself with the application, the steps and the payment options

01. New User Registration

After you read through the instructions, follow the below steps to register a new profile.

• Go to the US Travel Docs website
• Select “No” to the question “Is this your first time applying for a visa and/or visiting our site?”
• Click on “Create Account” button under “APPLY FOR A U.S. VISA”
• You will be taken to “New User Registration” section

Enter the following information in “New User Registration” section

• Select Country For Visa [ Comment: Country will automatically be displayed. This field is not editable ]
• Email [ Comment: Enter your email where you would like to receive communication ]
• First Name [ Comment: Enter your given name from the passport]
• Last Name [ Comment: Enter your last name or surname from the passport ]
• Password [ Comment: Enter a new password for your profile ]
• Confirm Password [ Comment: Enter the same password as you entered above ]
• I have read and understood the Privacy Policy [ Comment: Check this box ]
• Type in the characters displayed in the box below [ Comment: Enter the captcha ]

Click on the “Submit” button to register a new profile. Make a note of your username (your email) and password. You will need these credentials to save and come back to your application later.

Click on “New Application/Schedule Appointment” from the left side menu to start scheduling your appointment. When you click on “New Application/Schedule Appointment”, you will be taken to “Visa Type” section.

02. Visa Type

Enter the following information

• Immigrant Visa
• Nonimmigrant visa

Click on “Continue” to go to the “Location” section.

03. Location

• Please Select Your Country or State of Residence [ Comment: Select the location where you want to schedule your visa appointment ]

Click on “Continue” to go to the “Language” section.

04. Language

• Language Of Interview [ Comment: Enter the language in which you want to give your visa interview. You will be asked questions in this language ]

Click on “Continue” to go to “Visa Category” section.

05. Visa Category

• Business/Tourism, Crew and All Other Visas
• Students and Exchange Visitors
• L1 (Blanket)
• H&L visas

Click on “Continue” to go to “Visa Class” section.

06. Visa Class

• B1 – VISITOR FOR BUSINESS
• B1/B2 – VISITOR FOR BUSINESS AND PLEASURE
• B2 – VISITOR FOR PLEASURE OR MEDICAL TREATMENT

Click on “Continue” to go to “Review” section.

• Please make sure all selected information is correct before continuing [ Comment: Review the information and make sure everything you have entered is correct so far ]

Click on “Continue” to go to “Personal Data” section.

08. Personal Data

• Passport Number [ Comment: Enter you passport number as in your passport and DS-160 ]
• Passport Issuance Date [ Comment: Enter your passport issue date ]
• Passport Issuance Place [ Comment: Enter your passport place of issue ]
• Passport Expiration Date [ Comment: Enter your passport expiration date ]
• Date of Birth [ Comment: Enter your date of birth as shown in your passport ]
• Nationality [ Comment: Enter your nationality ]
• First Name [ Comment: Enter your given name from your passport ]
• Last Name [ Comment: Enter your last name or surname from your passport ]
• Country of Birth [ Comment: Enter your country of birth ]
• Gender [ Comment: Enter your gender ]
• DS-160 Confirmation Number [ Comment: Enter your DS-160 confirmation number ]
• Phone Number [ Comment: Enter your phone number ]
• Mobile Phone [ Comment: Enter your mobile number ]
• Email [Comment: Enter your email ]
• Address Line 1 [ Comment: Enter your address ]
• City [ Comment: Enter your city ]
• State [ Comment: Enter your state ]
• Postal Code [ Comment: Enter your postal/zip code ]

Click on “Continue” to go to “Dependents” section.

09. Dependents

• Please click “Add by Name” or “Add Existing Applicant” if you have a group/family member (including a child) who needs to apply for a visa with you. [ Comment: Click on the “Add by Name” button to add the dependents that need to attend the visa interview with you ]

If you would need to add your dependents, click on “Add by Name” button and enter the following information.

• DS-160 Confirmation # [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s DS-160 confirmation number ]
• First Name [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s given name from the passport ]
• Last Name [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s last name or surname from the passport ]
• Gender [ Comment: Select your dependent’s gender ]
• Date of Birth [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s date of birth as shown on the passport ]
• Country of Birth [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s country of birth ]
• Nationality [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s nationality
• Passport Number [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s passport number ]
• Passport Issuance Date [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s passport date of issue ]
• Passport Issuance Place [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s passport place of issue ]
• Passport Expiration Date [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s passport date of expiration ]
• Primary Phone # [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s primary phone number ]
• Alternative Phone # [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s alternative phone number ]
• Email [ Comment: Enter your dependent’s email ]

Click on “Save” to save your dependent’s information.

If you have more than one dependent that needs to attend the visa interview with you, click on “Add by Name” to add more dependents.

When finished adding all your dependents, click on “Continue” to go to “Age” section.

• Are you (the visa applicant) under 14 years or age? [ Comment: Click “No” to continue ]
• Are you (the visa applicant) 80 years of age or older? [ Comment: Click “No” to continue ]

11. Previous Visas

• Do you have a previous B-1/B-2 visa (visitor visa)? [ Comment: Click “No” to continue. Click “Yes” if you had a previous B1/B2 visa ]

NOTE If you select “Yes” to the above question, you will be asked a few questions to determine if you qualify for the visa renewal and interview waiver.

12. Documentation Delivery

• Pick Up [ Comment: Select this option if you would like to pick up your passport from visa application center or courier head office ]
• Delivery [ Comment: Select this option if you would like to receive your passport by mail to your home ]

Click on “Continue” to go to the “Payment Options” section.

13. Payment Options

On this screen, you will see different payment options. Click on each option to see the instructions on how to make the visa fee payment.

At this point, the visa application is already saved. Familiarize yourself with the payment options and pick the payment method that works best for you.

Available Payment Methods

• Electronic fund transfer (ETF) from a local bank account
• Cash payment at a designated local bank
• Country-specific local payment options (mobile payments, wallets, etc)

a. Electronic fund transfer (ETF) from a local bank account

Follow the below steps to pay your visa fee by electronic fund transfer

• On this screen, select Electronic Fund Transfer
• A unique account number will be displayed
• Make a note of this unique account number as you will need this to make your visa appointment
• Make an electronic fund transfer to this unique account number from your local bank account

You will be able to schedule your appointment on the next business day after the visa fee payment is made.

NOTE If more details such as bank name, bank address, etc are required to make an electronic fund transfer, those details will also be displayed along with the unique account number.

NOTE You must transfer the correct amount. Incorrect amounts can lead to delays.

b. Cash payment at a designated local bank

Follow the below steps to pay your visa fee by cash at a designated local bank

• On this screen, select Cash at Bank
• A link to download/print the visa application deposit/collection slip will be displayed
• Print the visa application deposit/collection slip
• Fill all the necessary details on the deposit/collection slip
• Take the deposit slip with you to the bank and make the visa fee payment
• You will be given a receipt, save the deposit slip and receipt

c. Country-specific local payment options (mobile payments, wallets, etc)

Follow the below steps to pay your visa fee by a local payment option such as mobile payment, wallet, etc. These options differ from country to country.

• On the payment screen, select your country specific local payment option (such as mobile, wallet, etc)
• Instructions on how to make the payment will be displayed
• Make the visa fee payment and make a note of the receipt or transaction number

You will be able to schedule your appointment the next business day after the visa fee payment is made.

After the payment, come back to the website and login with your credentials. You will see a “Continue” option on the left side menu. When you click this “Continue” option, you will be taken directly to the “Payment” screen.

Enter the following information on the “Payment” screen

• Receipt Number [ Comment: Enter the receipt number of your visa fee payment ]

Click “Continue” to schedule your visa appointment.

NOTE If your receipt has become active, you will be taken to the schedule appointment screen. If not, you will be shown an error saying that the receipt number is not valid. In that case, try again after some time. Remember that the receipt number becomes active on the next working day of your payment.

NOTE If you are renewing your previous visa, you may see an additional screen asking to select your visa priority. You may see 2 options – “Regular” and “No Show”. You must select “Regular”. “No Show” is for those who couldn’t make it to their previous appointment but using the same visa fee receipt number to schedule another appointment.

14. Schedule Fingerprints and Photo Appointment (applicable only in some countries)

On this screen, pick the date and time for your fingerprints and photo appointment.

Click on “Continue”.

Print your fingerprints and photo appointment confirmation. You will need a copy of this appointment confirmation for your fingerprints and photo.

NOTE Appointment for fingerprints and photo is ONLY REQUIRED in certain countries such as India, Mexico , etc. The appointment for fingerprints and photo must be scheduled at least 1 day ahead of your actual visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.

15. Schedule US Visa Interview Appointment

On this screen, pick the date and time for your visa interview appointment.

Print your US visa interview appointment confirmation. You will need a copy of your appointment confirmation for your visa interview.

NOTE The appointment for visa interview must be scheduled at least 1 day after your fingerprint and photo appointment.

NOTE The US visa appointment available dates can vary greatly from location to location. There may be several days wait in certain countries and cities. Before you book US visa appointment, I recommend checking the current wait times at the Bureau of Consular Affairs website to get an idea on when you can find an available slot.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I need to travel urgently. How can I apply for an expedited appointment?

If need to travel to the US urgently, you may qualify for an expedited US visa appointment. Keep in mind that you must have a strong reason and must be able to provide documentary evidence to prove it.

The following reasons are generally considered eligible for expedited appointments.

– Medical care for self or companion – Death or funeral of an immediate family member – Business related emergency travel – Students starting or resuming study

You must first schedule your appointment for the earliest available date. After which, you will see a menu item in your dashboard called “Emergency Request” or “Expedited Request”. Fill and submit the expedited request. If you qualify for an expedited appointment, you will be notified via email with instructions to schedule your expedited appointment.

We are traveling together as a family. How do I schedule a family appointment?

If you are traveling as a family, you can schedule one visa appointment for the entire family.

Follow the instructions below.

1) Create just one profile/account for yourself (primary applicant) in the appointment system. Add your family members as “dependents”

2) On the payment page, you will be given a single receipt number and the total visa fee amount (for the entire family) to be paid

3) You must make the total visa fee payment for that receipt number

4) When the receipt number becomes active, you will be able to schedule a single appointment for the entire family

5) On the day of the appointment, you all have to arrive at the consulate at the scheduled time and everyone in the family will be interviewed together

I cannot log into my account. It says my account is frozen and wait for 72 hours. What should I do?

If the appointment system notices that your activities are suspicious, it freezes your account for 72 hours. Once your account is frozen, you will not be able to log in for 72 hours.

I assume that the following activities can trigger an account freeze –

1. Going into the appointment page too often on a given day. You will be shown a warning message if you have accessed the schedule appointment page too often – “You are approaching the maximum number of times you may view this page. Please complete your transaction at this time.”

2. Leaving the appointment page open in other tabs/browsers while you do other work.

If your account is frozen, there is not much you can do. You will have to wait for a good 72 hours to be able to access your account again.

There are no available appointments. My travel dates are approaching. What should I do?

If you are not finding any available appointments and your travel dates are approaching, trying the following.

1) Keep an eye on the current wait times in your location and also at all other locations in your country. When you see a drop in the wait times in any of those locations, check for available appointments in that location. You may be able to find an earlier appointment that way.

2) Try checking for available appointments after midnight or early morning. There will be fewer people on the system, so it would be easy to find an appointment during those times.

3) Attend your interview in another country. Look up the current wait times in other countries that are easy for you to travel to. You will have to pay the visa fee in that country again as the fee is not transferable between countries.

I want to schedule my appointment in a different country than the country in my profile. How do I change this?

The country on your account defaults to the country where you have created your account for the first time. This is fine if you create an account and schedule your appointment in the same country.

The system also uses the name, date of birth and passport number to look up any duplicate accounts. So, if you create a new account, the system will flag it and will ask you to merge.

If you need to change the country on your account or merge your new account with the old one, you must contact USTravelDocs customer service. They have the ability to change the default country on your profile or merge your old account with the new one. Their customer service is very helpful in fixing such issues.

I don’t want to schedule my appointment. Can someone else use my visa fee receipt number?

When you make the visa fee payment, the receipt number (also referred to as MRV number, CGI number) will become active. Once you use this receipt number to lookup available appointments, it’s then associated with your profile. You cannot transfer the visa fee to another applicant.

If you have never used the receipt number in your profile, you can have other applicants use it for scheduling their appointment.

NOTE: The visa fee is valid for 1 year from the payment date. It can only be used to schedule an appointment in the country where the payment was made.

I can’t make it to my appointment. The system says I cannot reschedule anymore. What should I do?

An appointment can be rescheduled for only 1) a certain number of times and 2) until certain days before your appointment.

If you are approaching the number of times you are allowed to reschedule, you will see a warning. At this point, you cannot reschedule any more. If you continue, your appointment will be canceled and your receipt number becomes unusable. You have to pay the visa fee again to schedule your appointment.

I’m renewing my visa. Do I qualify for interview waiver?

If you are renewing your visa, you may qualify for an interview waiver if the following conditions are met.

1) You are applying for the same type of visa as the previous visa 2) You are applying at the same location as your previous visa 3) Your previous visa is still valid or expired in the last 1 year

If you qualify for an interview waiver, you can use the dropbox facility to submit your documents at the visa application center.

The procedure to renew a visa is the same as scheduling a new appointment. While scheduling your appointment, you will be asked questions about your previous visa. If you qualify for the interview waiver, the system will prompt you to use the dropbox submission. Instructions and required documentation are sent to your email.

My visa was neither approved nor denied. I was told that my case requires administrative processing. What should I do?

If the visa officer is not convinced with your answers during the interview, they may issue you a Section 221 (g) and put your case in administrative processing. Administrative processing is required if additional background checks or verification of information is necessary.

If your case requires administrative processing, the visa officer will give a yellow paper (referred to as Section 221 (g)) and will ask you to check the status of your case online. Administrative processing usually takes 4-6 weeks, but in extreme cases, it can take several months.

NOTE: Do not check your visa status right after your visa is approved. It will usually be administrative processing and it can cause panic. This is quite normal and US consulate would need to do some final checks before attaching the visa sticker in your passport.

My visa was approved but the online status stays it’s in administrative processing. What should I do?

Do not check your visa status right after your visa is approved. It will usually be in administrative processing and it can cause panic.

Administrative processing after visa is approved is quite normal. US consulate would need to perform some final checks before attaching the visa sticker in your passport. During this time, your case status will be administrative process/review.

I couldn’t attend my visa appointment. Can I use the same visa fee receipt to schedule another appointment?

Yes. You will be considered a “No Show” applicant. You can use the same visa fee receipt number to schedule a new appointment.

After your visa interview date, your visa fee receipt number gets deactivated. You have to wait two working days for the visa fee receipt number to become active again. After which, you can schedule your appointment.

While scheduling your new appointment, right after you enter your receipt number, you will be asked to select the visa priority – “Regular” or “No Show”. You must select “No Show” and continue scheduling your new appointment.

That’s it, folks! Follow this step-by-step guide to schedule US visa appointment. If you have any questions or stuck at any step, feel free to comment here or email me.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States, and for K (fiancé(e)) visas. Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.

Visa applicants must submit a completed DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application for all nonimmigrant visa categories, including applicants applying for K visas. ( Note:   For K visa cases in process at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate prior to October 7, 2013, review the limited exceptions explained in the FAQs below.) 

Review the Frequently Asked Questions for instructions about using the DS-160.

Access the online DS-160 by clicking: Consular Electronic Application Center website .

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Costs for work visas and green cards in U.S. are going up — a lot

Applying for a work visa or green card just became more expensive. The new fees, including some which are significantly higher, go into effect today, April 1.

No, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services hasn’t raised many of its fees in more than seven years. Unlike other agencies, the overwhelming majority, or 96%, of its funding comes from filing fees and 4% comes from congressional appropriations.

The number of immigration filings fell during the Covid-19 pandemic and so did revenue, at one point as much as 40 percent, according to USCIS. The agency implemented a hiring freeze during the pandemic while other positions became vacant as employees left. But the caseload eventually shot up to pre-pandemic levels and now there’s a serious backlog.

“The fee schedule from 2016 no longer covers operational costs to timely adjudicate USCIS immigration and naturalization benefits,” USCIS said on its website. “We need higher fees to cover the cost of doing business and better avoid the accumulation of future backlogs.”

Employers that hire foreign workers and immigration attorneys who work with these companies have been closely following the fee hikes, which the federal government announced it was planning to do over a year ago.

“We’re not talking about one or 2% increases,” said Stephanie Pimentel, partner and co-head of the Dallas office of BAL, a global immigration law firm. “When you pair the base line increases together with that additional new fee that is being leveraged on every new employment-based petition, you’re looking at increases of two and 300%.

The visa fee increase took effect despite an effort to stop USCIS from implementing them. Late last week, a federal district court judge denied a motion from an employer group and other plaintiffs for a temporary restraining order before April 1.

Among the changes, the fee for an H-1B visa petition increased from $460 to $780 and the registration fee for an H-1B shot up from $10 to $215.

One of the biggest changes is a new $600 Asylum Program Fee companies must pay when filling an employment-base petition.

“This is a new tactic of USCIS as part of their fee regulation is to start having U.S. businesses cover the cost of the asylum program because they have the ability to pay it, which I don’t know if I would agree on all businesses,” said Emily Neumann, an immigration attorney and managing partner at Reddy & Neumann, PC in Houston.

Neumann writes an immigration-related blog under the name Immigration Girl and co-hosts a weekly video she shares on social media.

The law firm BAL conducted a survey of employers about the feds’ new fees and found that more than half, or 57% of respondents, said the increase wouldn’t affect their ability to complete globally.

Pimentel said this is most likely because companies know other employers who hire foreign workers have to pay the same fees.

“Still, 43 percent saying that there’s going to be an impact on their ability to compete globally is significant,” Pimentel said, adding that 60% of businesses said they plan to file the same number of petitions while 40% said the would file fewer of them or offer fewer benefits.

Some of those benefits include the employer paying for their employees’ dependents to have their status to stay in the country extended. Others might pay the premium processing fee so their employee’s petition will be expedited. Under the new fee structure though, some employers may no longer cover those, leaving it to their employee(s).

Another change affects those seeking a green card or adjusting their status. The cost of an application is now $1,440, up from $1,225. And USCIS has added two additional fees for those applications – one for filing for interim work authorization and another for filing for an interim work permit.

You can find the entire new filing fee schedule here .

Got a tip? Email Stella M. Chávez at  [email protected] . You can follow Stella on Twitter  @stellamchavez .

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How the Visa-Mastercard Swipe Fee Settlement Affects Cardholders

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Visa and Mastercard reached a settlement with U.S. merchants this week that could have some trickle-down effects for consumers if the deal is approved. The agreement would lower credit card interchange fees , which merchants pay to process credit card transactions, and hold them at that reduced rate for several years. It also would limit the surcharges that merchants could impose on customers who pay with credit cards.

This settlement isn’t connected to the Credit Card Competition Act , bipartisan legislation that seeks to introduce greater competition among credit card payment networks in the hopes of lowering interchange fees.

The settlement still has to be approved by a federal court. If it is, here's how it could affect consumers.

What the settlement could change

Merchants’ costs of doing business (and maybe your shopping bill).

According to the terms of the settlement, Visa and Mastercard must lower their interchange fees by at least 4 basis points (that’s 0.04 percentage points) for at least three years. For five years, they can’t raise these fees above 2023 levels, and average interchange fees must be at least seven basis points (or 0.07 points) lower than the current average rate. In other words, interchange fee levels would be lowered for five years.

This interchange fee reduction could save merchants $29.79 billion in the five years after the settlement is approved, according to a statement by one of the law firms representing the class of merchants in the lawsuit.

Theoretically, merchants could pass these savings on to consumers in the form of lower prices or at least prices that remain stable over several years. They could also reinvest the savings into their businesses, such as by improving customer service. But there’s no requirement for merchants to do any of these things.

How you choose to pay

Other terms of the settlement put a limit on credit card surcharges, which are additional fees customers sometimes have to pay to use a credit card at checkout. Currently, Mastercard limits surcharge amounts to no more than 4%, while Visa limits surcharges to 3%.

The new surcharge cap would be 1% on Visa or Mastercard cards, regardless of what surcharges merchants impose on cards on other payment networks, such as American Express and Discover. If the merchant doesn’t accept cards on other payment networks, the surcharge is capped at 3%.

Merchants would be allowed to “steer” customers toward paying in certain ways, such as encouraging the use of cards on certain payment networks by offering lower surcharges. This could affect how you choose to pay for purchases based on what terms a merchant offers.

What won’t change

Credit card access and rewards.

According to Visa, this settlement wouldn’t affect consumers’ access to credit, nor would it affect credit card rewards programs.

“By negotiating directly with merchants, we have reached a settlement with meaningful concessions that address true pain points small businesses have identified,” Kim Lawrence, Visa's president for North America, said in a statement. “Importantly, we are making these concessions while also maintaining the safety, security, innovation, protections, rewards and access to credit that are so important to millions of Americans and to our economy.”

The Credit Card Competition Act

Again, this settlement is separate from the proposed Credit Card Competition Act. The settlement is a result of litigation that began in 2005, while the CCCA was first introduced in 2022 .

A statement from the Electronic Payments Coalition, which opposes the CCCA, said the settlement eliminates the need for legislation on interchange fees.

“The agreement between merchants, Visa, Mastercard and financial institutions has been decades in the making and treats businesses of all sizes equally without government mandates or jeopardizing consumers’ data security and rewards programs,” EPC executive chairman Richard Hunt said.

The Merchant Payments Coalition, a CCCA proponent, counters that a temporary fee reduction leaves consumers and businesses hanging once the five-year period is over.

“A few years of very small relief followed by business as usual is not a good outcome from 20 years of litigation,” said a statement from Christopher Jones, a member of the merchant coalition's executive committee and the National Grocers Association's senior vice president of government relations and counsel. “The settlement does nothing to actually bring competitive market forces to swipe fees or change the behavior of a cartel that centrally fixes rates and bars competition. Instead, it tries to provide token, temporary relief and then allows the card companies to raise rates yet again.”

What’s next?

Nothing is finalized just yet. The settlement must first be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. A statement from Mastercard estimates the changes spelled out in the settlement would go into effect in late 2024 or early 2025.

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Visa, Mastercard agree to $30B deal with merchants. What it means for credit card holders.

V isa and Mastercard earlier this week agreed to a settlement with U.S. merchants, promising to lower the fees stores have to pay to process credit card payments ‒ at least in the near term.

The settlement opens doors for retailers to place surcharges on cards with higher swipe fees, which could make using a premium card with a hefty rewards program more expensive. Some have speculated that the changes could affect credit card rewards, or perhaps allow merchants to pass down savings to customers.

But other experts are skeptical that this could lead to any significant changes for credit card users. 

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The settlement doesn’t appear to have “any bearing on the credit card holder,” said Michael Kinsman , an emeritus professor of finance and accounting at Pepperdine University in California who operates a CPA firm in Laguna Beach. 

What did the settlement say?

Visa and Mastercard denied wrongdoing but agreed to a number of changes in the near term as part of the settlement. Among them:

• The companies will lower interchange rates – the fee merchants have to pay to process a credit card payment, also referred to as “swipe rates” – by at least 4 basis points (0.04 percentage points) for three years. 
• Swipe rates must be at least 7 basis points below the current average for the next five years. 
• Merchants will be able to more easily steer customers to other payment methods, and can impose surcharges on premium credit cards with higher swipe fees.  

The settlement is still subject to court approval, and any changes would not go into effect until late 2024 or 2025, according to a statement from Mastercard.

What does this mean for credit card holders?

Patrick Payne , an associate professor of practice in personal and family financial planning at the University of Arizona in Tucson, doesn’t expect “dramatic changes” from the settlement but believes it could lead to more expensive premium cards.

The cards are already pricey; Chase Sapphire Reserve , for instance, has a $550 annual fee in exchange for perks like access to airport lounge membership and a $300 annual travel credit. The annual fee for the Platinum Card from American Express is nearly $700. 

Premium cards are more costly for merchants, too. The National Retail Federation says swipe fees average about 2% per transaction but can be as high as 4% for premium rewards cards. 

If this settlement is approved, merchants would have the ability to charge customers more for using premium Visa and Mastercard credit cards. 

But it’s not clear stores would want to charge these customers more, according to Lulu Wang , an assistant professor of finance at the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois. Making certain customers ‒ especially high-paying customers ‒ pay an extra surcharge threatens to sour relationships and hurt business.

“People talk about some changes it can make for merchants, but those changes seem like such a giant pain … to implement,” he said. 

“If they tried to do that, the customer relations would be just bloody awful. They'd have egg all over their face,” Kinsman added. 

Credit card debt: Americans have more credit card debt than savings again in 2024. How much do they owe?

Will merchants pass down their savings to consumers?

Retailers that accept Visa and Mastercard are expected to save at least $29.79 billion in the five years following the settlement, according to a statement by one of the law firms representing U.S. merchants in the lawsuit. 

In theory, merchants could pass down some of those savings to customers by lowering prices. This could be especially prevalent in smaller businesses, according to Payne from the University of Arizona.

“They might be able to offer more competitive prices to draw people from the big retailers,” he said.  

But other experts say consumers shouldn’t get their hopes up. 

“Most people aren't going to know about (the settlement) anyway,” said Kinsman, the emeritus professor at Pepperdine University. “So why would I, as a merchant, pass those costs back to my customers?”

What will Visa and Mastercard do?

Beverly Harzog , author of “The Debt Escape Plan: How to Free Yourself from Credit Card Balances, Boost Your Credit Score, and Live Debt-Free," said she doesn't expect many changes among credit card issuers after the settlement, in part because the changes aren't a "permanent fix." The three- and five-year time spans give the companies little time to make significant changes, she said.

"It's like trying to turn a giant cruise liner," she said. "It takes a lot of time, and sometimes, by the time they're ready to make that turn, the market has changed again.”

Her caveat? If one credit card issuer does decide to make a change after the settlement – whether that’s raising an annual fee or pushing back on certain benefits or perks – others will likely follow.

“I would watch for that first domino,” Harzog said. “And right now, I'm not expecting that, just because this (settlement) hasn't been finalized. Even if it is, it's a temporary solution and things go back to normal within a couple of years.”

Visa plans to maintain its "rewards and access to credit" if the settlement is approved, according to a statement quoting Kim Lawrence, the company's president of North America, that was released earlier this week . Spokespeople for Visa and Mastercard did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent after normal business hours on Friday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Visa, Mastercard agree to $30B deal with merchants. What it means for credit card holders.

You may have to pay more at checkout when using your Visa or Mastercard

• Visa and Mastercard settled with US retailers over fees on credit-card swipes.
• The agreement is set to allow retailers to negotiate fees directly with the credit-card companies.
• As a result, some customers may pay more at checkout.

After nearly two decades of litigation, Visa and Mastercard have reached a massive antitrust settlement with US retailers capping fees on credit-card swipes.

The agreement, which is still subject to court approval, is set to make Visa and Mastercard transactions cheaper for retailers and for some consumers.

But not all cardholders are set to be so lucky. The settlement allows merchants "to adjust prices based on the costs associated with accepting different credit cards," a statement from the retailers' lawyers said.

Related stories

In other words, shoppers using cards that charge higher interchange fees might pay higher prices.

Premium cards that offer more perks and points tend to have higher interchange fees. The popular Chase Sapphire Reserve card charges a higher interchange fee than the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, for example, as Bloomberg reported . 

The class-action suit includes all US merchants who accepted Visa or Mastercard payments after December 18, 2020 — 90% of which are small businesses, a law firm for the plaintiffs estimated.

The settlement — one of the largest in US antitrust history — could result in nearly $30 billion in savings by 2030, lawyers for the merchants said in a press release.

It's set to benefit businesses by lowering interchange rates, capping those rates for five years, and providing more options like surcharging at the checkout.

"This settlement is the culmination of eight years of hard-fought litigation and detailed, painstaking negotiations," Steve Shadowen, a co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs, said in a statement. "It provides comprehensive market-based solutions to too-high swipe fees, while providing immediate fee relief to merchants as they make these new competitive tools work for them."

Meanwhile, Visa hailed the settlement in a statement.

"By negotiating directly with merchants, we have reached a settlement with meaningful concessions that address true pain points small businesses have identified," Visa's North America president, Kim Lawrence, said in a statement after the settlement. "Importantly, we are making these concessions while also maintaining the safety, security, innovation, protections, rewards, and access to credit that are so important to millions of Americans and to our economy."

Watch: Apple's antitrust lawsuit is just one of its major battles

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Notice of FY 2025 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Selection Process Completion and Cap Season Reminders

H-1B Initial Electronic Registration Selection Process Completed

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap). We have randomly selected enough properly submitted registrations for unique beneficiaries projected as needed to reach the H-1B cap and have notified all prospective petitioners with selected beneficiaries that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for such beneficiaries.

Registrants’ online accounts will now show one of the following statuses for each registration (that is, for each beneficiary registered):

• Submitted:  The registration has been submitted and is eligible for selection. If the initial selection process has been completed, this registration remains eligible, unless subsequently invalidated, for selection in any subsequent selections for the fiscal year for which it was submitted.
• Selected:  Selected to file an H-1B cap petition.
• Not Selected: Not eligible to file an H-1B cap petition based on this registration.
• Denied – duplicate registration:  Multiple registrations were submitted by or on behalf of the same registrant for the same beneficiary. If denied as a duplicate registration, all registrations submitted by or on behalf of the same registrant for this beneficiary for the fiscal year are invalid.
• Invalidated – failed payment: A registration was submitted but the payment method was declined, not reconciled, or otherwise invalid.
• Deleted: The submitted registration has been deleted and is no longer eligible for selection.
• Processing submission:  USCIS is processing your submission. It may take up to 72 hours for all of your case information to show on the case details page. While it is processing, you will be unable to access your draft.

For more information, visit the  H-1B Electronic Registration Process  page.

FY 2025 H-1B Cap Petitions May Be Filed Starting April 1

H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2025, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may be filed with USCIS beginning April 1, 2024, if filed for a selected beneficiary and based on a valid registration.

Only petitioners with registrations for selected beneficiaries may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2025.

An H-1B cap-subject petition must be properly filed at the correct  filing location (see H-1B Form I-129 Filing Location Change to Lockbox section below)   or online at  my.uscis.gov and within the filing period indicated on the relevant selection notice. The period for filing the H-1B cap-subject petition will be at least 90 days. Petitioners must include a copy of the applicable selection notice with the FY 2025 H-1B cap-subject petition.

Petitioners must also submit evidence of the beneficiary’s valid passport or travel document used at the time of registration to identify the beneficiary.

Petitioners filing for selected beneficiaries based on their valid registration must still submit evidence or otherwise establish eligibility for petition approval, as registration and selection only pertains to eligibility to file the H-1B cap-subject petition.

For more information, visit the  H-1B Cap Season  page.

New Fees and Form Edition

On Jan. 31, 2024, USCIS published a  final rule   that adjusts the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees are effective April 1, 2024. Petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2024 , must include the new fees or we will not accept them. Additionally, there will be a new 04/01/24 edition of  Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker . There will be  no grace period  for filing the new version of Form I-129 because it must include the new fee calculation.

What to Know About Sending Us Your Form I-129.

• We will accept the 05/31/23 edition of this form if it is postmarked  before  April 1, 2024;
• We will not accept the 05/31/23 edition of this form if it is postmarked  on  or  after  April 1, 2024; and
• We will only accept the 04/01/24 edition of this form if it is postmarked  on  or  after  April 1, 2024.

We will use the  postmark date  of a filing to determine which form version and fees are correct but will use the  received date  for purposes of any regulatory or statutory filing deadlines.

As a reminder, we recently  announced  a  final premium processing fee rule  that increased the filing fee for  Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service , to adjust for inflation, effective Feb. 26, 2024. If we receive a Form I-907 postmarked on or after Feb. 26, 2024, with the incorrect filing fee, we will reject the Form I-907 and return the filing fee. For filings sent by commercial courier (such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL), the postmark date is the date on the courier receipt.

Online Filing and Organizational Accounts

On Feb. 28, 2024, we launched new online organizational accounts that allow multiple people within an organization and their legal representatives to collaborate on and prepare H-1B registrations, H-1B petitions, and any associated Form I-907. Information on organizational accounts is available on the  Organizational Accounts Frequently Asked Questions page.

We also launched online filing of Form I-129 and associated Form I-907 for non-cap H-1B petitions on March 25. On April 1, we will begin accepting online filing for H-1B cap petitions and associated Forms I-907 for petitioners whose registrations have been selected.

Petitioners will continue to have the option of filing a paper Form I-129 H-1B petition and any associated Form I-907 if they prefer. However, during the initial launch of organizational accounts, users will not be able to link paper-filed Forms I-129 and I-907 to their online accounts.

H-1B Form I-129 Filing Location Change to Lockbox

Starting April 1, 2024, H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) Form I-129 petitions are no longer filed directly with the USCIS service centers. All paper-based H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) Form I-129 petitions are now filed at USCIS lockbox locations. This includes cap, non-cap, and cap-exempt H-1B filings.

We will reject H-1B or H-1B1 (HSC) petitions received at a USCIS service center on or after April 1, 2024. There will be  no grace period  provided.

USCIS has specific mailing addresses for cases that are subject to the H-1B cap. To determine the correct mailing address, please see our  Form I-129 Direct Filing Addresses  page.

If a petition is filed at the wrong location, we may reject the petition. Rejected petitions will not retain a filing date. If we reject a petition because it was filed at the wrong location, it may be refiled at the correct location, or online. H-1B cap subject petitions may be refiled at the correct location, or online, as long as the petition is refiled during the designated 90-day filing window listed on the selection notice.

No More Pre-paid Mailers

As of March 25, 2024, we are no longer using prepaid mailers to send out any communication or final notices for any H-1B or H-1B1 (HSC) petitions. With H-1B intake now occurring at the lockbox or online, we will not be able to use any prepaid mailers for H-1B or H-1B1 (HSC) filings.

The process of printing and mailing H-1B petition approval notices by first-class mail is fully automated. For petitions filed online, myUSCIS account holders will also receive an email or text message notification in their myUSCIS account when there is a case status change on a case in their account, followed by a paper notice by mail.

Receipt Notice Delays

When we receive a timely and properly filed H-1B cap subject petition, the petitioner (and, if applicable, the petitioner’s legal representative) will be provided a Form I-797, Notice of Action, communicating receipt of the petition. Due to increased filing volumes typically seen during H-1B cap filing periods, there are instances where a paper petition is timely and properly filed by mail, but issuance of the Form I-797 is delayed. If you are a petitioner and have confirmation from the delivery service that the petition was delivered, but you have not yet received a Form I-797 confirming receipt of the petition, you should not submit a second petition. If you have confirmation from the delivery service that the petition was delivered and you then submit a second H-1B cap petition for the same beneficiary, you will be considered to have submitted multiple H-1B cap petitions. This will result in denial or revocation of both petitions.

If more than 30 days have passed since the confirmation of delivery and you have still not received a Form I-797, you may contact the  USCIS Contact Center  for assistance.

If you receive notification from the delivery service, or your tracking information suggests that there may be a delay or damage to the package or that the package was misrouted, you should follow the Delivery Service Error Guidance on the  H-1B Cap Season  webpage.

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Credit Card Swipe Fees Are Going Down. Are Points Going With Them?

A new agreement by Visa and Mastercard to reduce fees charged to merchants may drain the lucrative rewards that grant free travel to many credit card users.

By Elaine Glusac

Elaine Glusac is the Frugal Traveler columnist, focusing on budget-friendly tips and journeys.

On Tuesday, the largest credit card companies in the United States reached an agreement with merchants to reduce the so-called swipe fees retailers pay for accepting credit card payments, potentially saving the retailers $30 billion.

These fees also help fund the credit card rewards programs that many travelers redeem for things like free flights and hotel stays, leading points hawks to wonder: Are loyalty programs at risk?

Here’s what we know so far about the changes.

What are the terms of the deal?

Last year, credit card payments generated an estimated $72 billion in fees paid by merchants, which are generally passed along to customers in the form of higher prices. For nearly 20 years, merchants have been seeking reductions in the fees they pay Visa and Mastercard for handling transactions where the cards are used.

The proposed settlement , awaiting approval in a federal court, reduces and caps those fees for five years. It would also allow merchants to potentially charge consumers more based on the card they pay with. For example, a person paying with a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which costs $550 a year, could be charged more than someone paying with the more basic Chase Sapphire Preferred card, with an annual fee of $95.

Why does it matter?

The majority of the fees collected go back to the banks that issue the credit cards. Those banks have used the funds to push premium credit cards that offer loyalty points, which can be redeemed for free travel and other perks. The cards with the biggest benefits tend to be those that charge higher swipe fees.

While the reduction in the fees collected sounds small — averaging at least .07 percent — they represent an estimated $30 billion over the five-year term of the deal, which banks could try to make up by reducing points perks.

“It’s reasonable to think that,” said Brian Kelly, the founder of the Points Guy , a news site devoted to maximizing credit card points.

While he speculated that banks will be able to “find other ways to make up the difference,” he acknowledged that a points squeeze could emerge.

“Opportunities to earn probably aren’t going to flourish,” he said.

The idea that merchants could charge more to the holders of premium, perks-rich cards, which are expensive, might also deter consumers from using them. Some experts question the viability of the practice given the potential for consumer backlash.

Is the new agreement related to the Credit Card Competition Act?

The legal actions that led to the new credit card agreement date back to 2005. But the newer Credit Card Competition Act , proposed in 2023, aims to introduce more competition in the credit card payment system. By creating a cheaper alternative pipeline for processing payments, the proposed legislation is seen as a greater threat to rewards programs.

Responding to the just-announced agreement between the credit card companies and retailers, Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and the lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act, released a statement urging the act’s passage.

“I fear that this deal only provides temporary concessions negotiated by a few lawyers behind closed doors,” he said in the statement.

Other experts said the agreement may ease the pressure on Congress to pass the act.

“I think it’s a way for Visa and Mastercard to show that they are making a good-faith effort to help out merchants by lowering the fees they’ve been complaining about for 20 years, and hopefully enough to let senators know they’re doing their part,” said Chris Hassan, the social media and brand manager for Upgraded Points , a website that tracks credit card benefits.

Separately, the proposed merger between Capital One and Discover, which is pending federal approval, could introduce more competition among credit cards and potentially improve rewards for holders of those cards.

What should I do now?

The points and payments systems won’t change until the agreement is approved, which is expected in late 2024 or early 2025, according to a news release from Mastercard.

But the topic should remind travelers of the reality of playing with points: The rules always change. Values tend to fall as redemption levels rise, which companies issuing these currencies are free to adjust at will.

If you have points, spend them, say experts like Sara Rathner, a travel and credit card specialist at the financial website NerdWallet . “They’re not a trophy to dust and admire.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

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Restrictions, visa types and application fee amounts, visa types and conditions with no fee required, nonimmigrant visa issuance ("reciprocity") fees.

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Visa applicants, including children, are required to pay a non-refundable, non-transferable visa application fee, sometimes referred to as the MRV fee, before applying for a nonimmigrant visa. The visa application fee must be paid whether a visa is issued or not. The type of visa for which you apply determines the fee amount. Depending on your citizenship and the type of visa you are applying for, you may also have to pay a visa issuance or “reciprocity” fee. This webpage lists visa application fees associated with each nonimmigrant visa type.

Please note that only the application fees for nonimmigrant visas are listed here.

Although fees are listed in U.S. dollars, payment must be made using local currency. You can pay your fee at any SNB Bank location. More information about payment options is here . To find a SNB Bank branch, click here .

  All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee.  Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period.  Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period.  There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period.  All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date.

• Applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, and diplomatic visas (as defined in 22 CFR 41.26);
• Applicants holding J visas and who are participating in certain official U.S. Government-sponsored educational and cultural exchanges;
• Replacement of a machine-readable visa within one year of visa issuance, when the original visa was not properly affixed or the visa needs to be reissued through no fault of the applicant;
• Applicants exempted by international agreement, including members and staff of an observer mission to United Nations Headquarters recognized by the UN General Assembly, and their immediate families;
• Applicants traveling to provide certain charitable services;
• U.S. Government employees traveling on official business; and,
• 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 urgent treatment and convalescence.

In some cases, additional visa fees are paid directly to the National Visa Center, to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate or to the Department of Homeland Security.

Applicants from certain countries may be required to pay a visa issuance fee after their application is approved. These fees are based on "reciprocity" (what another country charges a U.S. citizen for a similar-type of visa). The United States strives to eliminate visa issuance fees whenever possible, however, when a foreign government imposes these fees on U.S. citizens for certain types of visas, the United States will impose a "reciprocal" fee on citizens of that country for similar types of visas. The Department of State's website has more information about visa issuance fees and can help you determine if an issuance fee applies to your nationality.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an Internet-based system that tracks F, M, and J visa participants (and their family members) from the time they receive their initial documentation (either an I-20 or a DS-2019) until they graduate/leave school or conclude/leave program.

F, M and J visa principal applicants: Check with your U.S. school to make sure your information has been entered into SEVIS. You will need to pay a separate SEVIS fee in addition to the visa application fee. For nonimmigrant students with Form I-20, the SEVIS fee is US$350.DHS will maintain the $35 I-901 SEVIS Fee for J exchange visitors in the au pair, camp counselor, and summer work travel program participant categories, but the full I-901 SEVIS Fee for other J exchange visitors is now $220.

Proof of payment is required before your student or exchange visitor visa will be issued. Payment cannot be made at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Instructions for paying the SEVIS fee can be found here .

SEVIS Fee Exception

Applicants participating in a U.S. Government sponsored program (programs whose codes begin with G-1, G-2, G-3, G-7) are not required to pay the SEVIS fee.

Blanket L Fee (Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee) First-time principal applicants who are covered under a blanket petition for L status must pay a Fraud Prevention and Detection fee of US $500. This fee should be paid to the cashier at the Consular Section on the day of the interview. If a subsequent L-1 visa application is based on a new Form I-129S, the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee must be collected again.

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