VISA FEES

Most non-diplomatic and non-official visas issued by United States consular officers abroad require a visa application fee that recovers for the United States the costs associated with manufacturing, processing, and printing the visa. 

The current U.S. nonimmigrant visa application fee is $131.00.  All applicants applying for nonimmigrant visas in China must pay the non-refundable application fee of RMB 904.00 (effective Thursday, July 24, 2008) payable at designated branches of China CITIC Bank . Both copies of the CITIC Bank fee receipt must be included with all visa applications.  Please note that the application fee is non-refundable regardless of whether or not a visa is issued.  Applicants who have paid the application fee but fail to submit applications within one year will not have their application fee refunded.  Only diplomatic passport holders and applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, and U.S. Government sponsored J visas are exempt from the application fee.

In addition to the application fee, there are some classifications of visas that require an issuance fee.  Visa issuance fees are based on reciprocity (what another country charges a United States citizen for a similar-type of visa).  The United States strives to eliminate visa issuance fees whenever possible; however, when a foreign government imposes such fees on U.S. citizens for certain types of visas, the United States will impose a reciprocal fee to nationals of that country for similar-types of visas.  Visa issuance fees are paid in U.S. or local currency at the Embassy or Consulate when the visa is approved.  Chinese Nationals currently are only charged an issuance fee if they are applying for the L classification visa.  For more detailed information about visa fees and reciprocity agreements check here.