Is the DS-160 Application Fee Refundable?

No. The U.S. visa application processing fee, often called the MRV fee, is listed as non-refundable. It is also described as non-transferable.

There’s a detail that causes a lot of confusion: the DS-160 is the visa application form, while the MRV fee is a separate payment connected to processing the visa application. People often call it the “DS-160 fee,” but the form and the fee are not the same thing.

For non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas other than E visas, the listed fee is $185. Your exact payment instructions and fee details can depend on the country where you apply.

Is the DS-160 application fee refundable?

The available visa-fee information says the fee is not refundable. So, if you’re asking, “Can I get a refund of US visa application fee?” the general answer is no.

The same information describes the MRV fee as non-transferable. That means you should not assume you can move the payment to another person, another visa applicant, or a different case.

This rule applies to the visa application processing fee. It should not be confused with a charge for simply completing or submitting the DS-160 form. The DS-160 is the online form where you provide your personal, travel, work, and background details. The MRV fee is paid separately under the payment process used in your country.

The available guidance does not identify a general refund exception or a standard refund process. If your payment involved a technical problem, duplicate charge, or another unusual issue, check the instructions from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your application before assuming anything.

What the MRV fee covers—and what it does not

MRV means Machine Readable Visa. In practical terms, the MRV fee is the visa application processing fee paid for certain U.S. nonimmigrant visa applications.

It is separate from the DS-160 itself:

• You complete the DS-160 online.
• You submit the form and keep the confirmation details.
• You pay the visa application or MRV fee using your country’s payment instructions.
• You then follow the local process for scheduling or continuing your visa application.

The fee does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. It is a processing fee, not a payment for approval.

It also does not turn the DS-160 into a reusable form. If your information changes or you need to submit a new form, the correct next step may depend on the instructions for your embassy or consulate.

For many non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas, including the B1/B2 visitor visa, the listed fee is $185 unless a different rule applies to the visa category or location. Always check the current instructions for the place where you will apply.

How to pay the visa fee after submitting the DS-160

After completing the DS-160, you pay the visa fee through the payment method provided for your country. There is no single payment process that applies everywhere.

The U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for your country should explain details such as:

• Where to create or continue your visa appointment profile
• Which payment methods are available
• Whether payment is made online, through a bank, or through another approved channel
• How to record or connect the payment to your application
• What information you need before making the payment

So, how do you pay the visa fee after submitting your DS-160 application? Start with the country-specific U.S. Embassy or Consulate instructions. Do not rely only on advice from an applicant in another country. A payment method or scheduling step that works in one place may not apply where you are applying.

Keep your payment record and DS-160 confirmation information. You may need those details as you move through the local application process.

How long the visa fee remains valid

The available payment information says the visa fee is valid for one year. This is the main answer to the question, “How long are DS-160 fees valid for?”

Still, the wording can leave practical questions. For example, applicants may want to know exactly when the one-year period starts, what action must happen before it ends, or how the rule works if an appointment is changed. The general information provided does not explain every one of those situations.

That’s why you should check the payment instructions for your country and keep track of the payment date. Do not wait until the last moment if you still need to schedule or continue your application.

The one-year validity period also does not mean the fee can be transferred to another applicant. Validity and transferability are separate issues. The fee may remain valid for the stated period while still being tied to the applicant or case rules used in that payment system.

What happens if you cancel an appointment or need to resubmit

This is where broad answers become risky.

The fee is described as non-refundable, so cancelling an appointment should not be treated as a reason to expect your money back. However, the available guidance does not give a complete, universal rule for every cancellation or rescheduling situation.

It also does not clearly answer every resubmission question, such as:

• Whether a new DS-160 can be used with an existing payment
• Whether a new payment is needed after a particular type of resubmission
• How a cancelled appointment affects the fee’s one-year validity
• What happens when an applicant changes visa categories or application details

Those details may depend on the country-specific appointment system and the reason for the change. Check the relevant embassy or consulate instructions before paying again. Paying a second time without checking may leave you with an avoidable extra charge, while assuming the first payment still applies could also delay your application.

Can the fee be transferred to another applicant or visa case?

The listed rule is no. The MRV fee is described as non-transferable.

That means you should not expect to give your payment to a family member, friend, or another applicant. You also should not assume it can be moved automatically to a different visa case.

A change in your own application may raise a different question from a transfer to another person. For example, changing information on a DS-160 is not the same as assigning the payment to someone else. The available general guidance does not spell out every case-related change, so local instructions still matter.

Can you update the DS-160 after paying the fee?

The available visa-fee information does not explain whether, or exactly how, you can update a DS-160 after paying the fee.

That means you should not assume that payment locks the form permanently. You also should not assume that you can freely replace the form without affecting your appointment or payment record.

If you find an error after payment:

1. Review the DS-160 and appointment instructions for your country.
2. Check how the embassy or consulate handles a new or corrected DS-160.
3. Confirm whether your appointment profile must be updated.
4. Avoid submitting a replacement form until you understand how it connects to your existing application.

The key point is that the fee and the form are separate, but changes to the form may still affect how your application is handled.

Check your U.S. Embassy or Consulate’s country-specific payment instructions

The broad rules are clear: the visa application or MRV fee is listed as non-refundable, non-transferable, and valid for one year. The listed fee for many non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas other than E visas is $185.

The less certain issues involve your specific situation—cancelled appointments, resubmissions, replacement DS-160 forms, and changes after payment. General information does not resolve every one of those questions.

Before you pay or make changes, use the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for the country where you’re applying. That is where you’ll find the payment, cancellation, appointment, and DS-160 instructions that apply to your case.