“How much does a US visa cost?” has a simple core answer and a lot of hidden detail. The consular fee is fixed and identical for everyone; what varies is how you pay it and what applying from abroad adds on top. Here’s the full 2026 breakdown — no asterisks.

What you actually pay

Item Amount Paid to
MRV consular fee (B1/B2) $185 US State Dept. Fixed, non-refundable even on refusal
Visa Integrity Fee $250 (from 30 Sep 2026) A new fee; confirm applicability at your application date
Reciprocity / issuance fee Often $0 Depends on nationality
Intel.Viza service $49–$290 DS-160 completion, strategy, support — separate from the government fee

The key point: everyone pays $185. There is no “cheaper fee by nationality.” Anyone promising a discounted consular fee is misleading you.

Where applicants get the cost wrong

  1. Confusing the service fee with the government fee. Our $49–$290 covers the application work; the $185 MRV always goes to the State Department separately.
  2. Forgetting the trip-to-apply cost. If you apply in a third country, budget travel and lodging to the consulate.
  3. Card payment failures. Some cards don’t clear on the official payment page; if yours fails, we can pay the MRV for you (a $39 service with guaranteed clearing).

Intel.Viza plans — one payment, no subscriptions

  • Self-service — $49: DS-160 auto-fill, strategic per-field guidance, interview prep + one manager consultation if you run into trouble.
  • Full support — $290: everything in Self-service + a personal manager, a broker’s case review, interview rehearsal, MRV payment help, and interview booking.

A worked example

A typical applicant, Self-service plan: - MRV fee: $185 (+ a possible $250 Visa Integrity Fee from 30 Sep 2026) - Intel.Viza Self-service: $49 - Travel/lodging to the consulate: varies

The visa fee is the same for everyone; the only real variables are how you pay and where you apply — which we cover in applying from abroad. Start with the free assessment and plan your budget with no surprises.