How Much Does It Cost to Submit a DS-160?

The DS-160 itself is an online form. The form does not have one universal “submission price.” What you usually pay is the nonimmigrant visa application fee, often called the MRV fee, after or around the time you complete the DS-160. For many common visa categories, that fee is listed as $185.

That distinction matters because search results may show $160, $185, $330, or other charges. These amounts can refer to different visa categories, fees, or application instructions.

Does submitting the DS-160 cost money?

There isn't a single fee that applies simply because you clicked “submit” on the DS-160.

The DS-160 is the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. You complete it online and submit it electronically. The related charge is usually the visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee. MRV means Machine Readable Visa, which refers to the visa application process rather than a separate fee for typing information into the form.

So, when people ask how much does it cost to submit a DS-160, the practical answer is:

• The DS-160 is the online application form.
• The visa application fee is a separate charge connected to applying for the visa.
• The amount depends on your visa category and the instructions for your country.

For many tourist, business, student, and exchange visa applicants, the commonly listed application fee is $185. That does not make $185 a universal DS-160 fee.

The commonly listed $185 nonimmigrant visa application fee

The $185 amount is commonly listed for several temporary U.S. visa categories, including:

This is the amount many applicants mean when they search for the DS-160 fee for B1/B2 visa. B-1 visas are generally for business travel, while B-2 visas are generally for tourism or other temporary visits. A combined B-1/B-2 application is also commonly associated with the $185 application fee.

Still, treat this table as a starting point, not a payment instruction. Fees can change, and the amount shown for your application may depend on your visa type or local instructions.

The $185 fee is generally connected to the visa application process. It is not a charge for accessing the DS-160 website or for saving your form while you work on it.

Visa categories with different or additional fees

The main reason fee answers can look inconsistent is that applicants aren't all applying under the same category.

One set of instructions may list $185 for a standard temporary visa. Another may list $160 for a different application or under different instructions. That older or different figure should not be treated as proof that every DS-160 costs $160—or that every applicant must pay $185.

There are also cases with a separate fee structure. For example, the listed fee for a Diversity Visa applicant is $330 per person. That charge is nonrefundable, whether or not a visa is issued. It should be considered separately from the commonly listed $185 fee for many nonimmigrant visa categories.

A fee table can help you see the difference:

These are not interchangeable payments. Don't choose a fee based only on a search result that mentions “DS-160.”

What F-1 students pay besides the visa application fee

F-1 students commonly need to account for two separate charges.

First, the F-1 visa application fee is listed as $185. This is the fee associated with the visa application, not a special price for submitting the online form.

Second, F-1 applicants have a separate SEVIS fee of $350. SEVIS is the student and exchange visitor tracking system used for information about people studying or taking part in exchange programs.

That means an F-1 applicant may need to budget for:

• The $185 visa application fee
• The separate $350 SEVIS fee

Paying one does not automatically pay the other. Check the instructions for your school, visa category, and country so you know which payment comes first and how each one must be recorded.

This is one reason a simple answer such as “the DS-160 costs $185” can cause trouble. It leaves out the difference between the form, the visa application fee, and the SEVIS charge.

How the DS-160 fee payment connects to a visa appointment

Completing the DS-160 is one part of the application process. Paying the visa fee and arranging a DS-160 appointment are related steps, but they are not the same action.

In many cases, you will need the DS-160 confirmation details when you move on to the appointment process. The payment system may also give you instructions for scheduling an interview after the fee is recorded. The exact order can differ by country.

A practical checklist looks like this:

1. Choose the correct visa category.
2. Complete the DS-160 online.
3. Submit the form and keep the confirmation information.
4. Review the local instructions for MRV fee payment.
5. Pay the correct visa application fee using the approved payment method.
6. Follow the instructions for booking an appointment.
7. Bring the required confirmation and payment information to the next stage.

Don't assume that paying online immediately creates an appointment. A payment may need to be matched to your application before the scheduling system allows you to choose a date.

How to submit your DS-160 online

Yes, you can complete the DS-160 online. It is designed as an online nonimmigrant visa application, and submission takes place electronically.

Before you begin, make sure you're working under the correct visa category and using the instructions meant for your country. The fee question comes before payment, but the visa category comes before both. If you select the wrong category, you may end up with the wrong fee instructions or an application that doesn't match your intended travel.

As you work through the form:

• Enter information carefully and consistently.
• Save your progress as allowed by the online system.
• Review your answers before submitting.
• Keep the confirmation page and any application details shown after submission.
• Use the same application information when following the appointment instructions.

The form and payment are separate. Submitting the DS-160 does not mean you have paid the visa application fee. Paying the MRV fee does not replace the need to complete and submit the DS-160.

Documents and information to prepare before filling out the form

The DS-160 asks for information about your application and travel plans. The exact items you need can depend on the visa category, so use the instructions connected to your application rather than relying on a general checklist from another type of visa.

Before starting, gather the information and records called for in the instructions for your category. It also helps to have your intended visa purpose clear. A tourist applicant, an F-1 student, and an exchange visitor may not follow identical instructions.

You should also plan enough time to read each question and check your answers. The available information does not support promising a fixed completion time, and rushing can make errors more likely.

If you need to stop, keep track of the details needed to return to your saved application. After submission, store the confirmation information somewhere safe. You may need it for the appointment process.

What to verify before paying: visa category, country, and appointment instructions

Before making a U.S. visa fee payment, check three things.

1. Your visa category

Confirm whether you're applying as a tourist, business visitor, student, exchange visitor, DV applicant, or under another category. The commonly listed $185 fee applies to many standard nonimmigrant visa types, but it is not a universal charge.

F-1 students should include the separate $350 SEVIS fee in their planning. DV applicants should look for the $330-per-person fee listed for that program.

2. Your country

Payment methods and appointment steps can vary by country. The same visa category may have different local instructions for how to pay, where to pay, and how payment is connected to scheduling.

This is also why you may see a $160 amount in one set of results and $185 in another. Don't treat either number as automatically correct for your case.

3. The appointment instructions

Find out how your payment is used in the local appointment system. The instructions should explain how to make the MRV fee payment, how to keep the receipt or payment record, and how to proceed with a DS-160 appointment.

Before you submit payment or book an appointment, confirm the current fee and payment process for your exact visa category and country. That check is the safest way to avoid paying the wrong amount or following the wrong appointment instructions.