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Bank and Payment Options/Pay My Visa Fee

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Instructions to Pay Your Visa fee

Fee payment options, scheduling your interview.

Most applicants, including children, are required to pay a Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee to initiate their U.S. visa application. This US Government-mandated fee is a visa processing fee that is payable whether or not a visa is issued.

The MRV fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Applicants should first determine whether or not they require a visa to travel to the US before submitting their applications.

Examples of individuals that may not require a visa include, but are not limited to:

• If you are applying for an  A or G visa  for official travel, you do not need to pay the MRV fee
• If you are applying for a  J visa  to participate in a U.S. Government-sponsored program (programs beginning with G-1, G-2, G-3, G-7), you do not need to pay the MRV fee
• If you already hold a valid visa for your intended purpose of travel, you may not need a visa
• If you are a citizen of Canada or Bermuda (but not applying for an A, E, G, K or V visa category), you may not need a visa

If you do need to apply for a visa, please follow the payment instructions below. Applicants must make a successful payment before they are permitted to schedule their interview appointment. Applicants who do not pay the correct fee for their visa type may be restricted from scheduling an interview.

Once the initial interview is scheduled, applicants are limited to the number of times they can reschedule their appointment. If you miss your scheduled appointment time, you may be required to pay the MRV fee again in order to schedule another interview. Please plan accordingly so that you are not required to pay an additional visa application fee. Visa application fees are  non-refundable .

Remember:  Applicants are limited to the number of times they can reschedule their appointments. Please plan accordingly so that you are not required to pay another visa application fee. Visa application fees are non-refundable.

Issuance Fee (Reciprocity Fee)

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 fee is not an MRV Fee and cannot be used to schedule an appointment. Please make sure that you pay the reciprocity fee in advance only if you are renewing your previous and submitting your application through the visa reissuance program. If you are scheduling your interview appointment, do not pay the reciprocity fee in advance; the fee should be paid at the time of your interview at the United States Embassy, Havana.

Please  check this page  to find out the applicable reciprocity fee amounts.

For residents of Cuba, visa fees must be paid on your behalf by a friend or relative living in the United States. Payment options can be accessed only after your friend or relative registers on the applicant site and chooses the ‘schedule your appointment’ option to access the payment option details. A US resident applying on your behalf, must follow the below steps.

Log-in  to our online applicant system and create a profile. This will ensure the proper amount is paid and activated in timely manner. All fees are shown in U.S. Dollars (USD). This page has more information about the different visa application fees.

Click on Schedule My Appointment option on the left-hand side of your screen. Complete Steps for Visa Type, Post, Visa Category and Visa Class.

Once you are on the Payment screen, click on Payment Options to pick your form of payment. To review further payment details read the Fee Payment Options sections below.

Applicants who do not pay the correct fee for their visa type may be restricted from scheduling an interview.

Pick the payment option that is most convenient for you and make your payment. When you pay the visa fee, you acknowledge that this is a non-refundable visa application processing fee required as a prerequisite to the processing of an application. It does not indicate the existence of a contract with the applicant, nor does it guarantee a successful application. There is no refund possible regardless of the outcome of this application.

Whichever payment option you choose, you must save your CGI reference number or transaction number. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your CGI reference or transaction number.

Once you pay your visa fee, you can schedule your interview according to the Visa Application Fee Payment Processing Timelines below. Log-in to your profile and complete the Schedule Your Appointment steps with your CGI reference number.

Online Payment with a Debit Card (Check/Bank Card)

The most convenient payment method for your nonimmigrant visa application (NIV) fee is online with a Debit Card (Checking Card, Banking Card). WE DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS.

• Once you log into your  profile  and while on the payment screen, you can select to pay by debit card.
• After you pay the visa application fee, print your receipt for your records. Save your receipt with the transaction number. The transaction number will be used to schedule your appointment. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your transaction number.
• When you have completed the payment, you MUST return to the profile and hit 'Continue' to schedule the appointment. Follow all the steps and when you are prompted for payment again, you should select the Debit card payment option, so that your receipt gets linked correctly to the profile.

Cash ‘PayNearMe’ (7-Eleven Stores, Family Dollar, ACE Cash Express)

You can pay your nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application fee in cash at any participating 7-Eleven, Family Dollar or ACE Cash Express location. If you are applying for multiple visas for your family or group, only ONE payment is required. To find a PayNearMe location, please click here

• After logging into your profile and while on the payment selection screen, you can select the ‘PayNearMe’ payment Option.
• You will be asked to enter an email address and choose a payment location.
• You will print a PayNearMe Pay Slip (containing the CGI Reference).  You MUST bring the PAYNEARME PAYSLIP to the store along with your cash payment.  Please make only one payment per CGI Reference number as the payment is non-refundable.
• You may also receive this barcode direct to your cellphone.

TAKE THE PAYNEARME PAYSLIP (printed or on your phone) to a 7-Eleven, Family Dollar, or ACE Cash Express location and show it to the cashier.  You must pay the exact dollar amount indicated, or you will not be able to schedule your appointment.

Note: if you do not pay the amount indicated on the deposit slip you will not be able to schedule your appointment.  The maximum single payment amount an applicant can make is $1,000 with a $2,900 maximum within a 24 hour period.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS OR BANK DRAFTS.

Online Banking Transfer

If you wish to pay your Visa fee using ACH/WIRE, please contact [email protected]  to request beneficiary banking details. Please put ACH/WIRE Request in the subject title.

Notice: Only groups of 10 or more are eligible for online banking transfers.

Please note:  We do not guarantee your payment will be valid the next day. Outward processing times published by your bank should be used as a guideline on when to contact the helpdesk to claim your payment.  WE DO NOT ACCEPT BANK TRANSFERS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE US. Payments from overseas will be rejected.

Whether you schedule your appointment  online  or contact our  call center , you will need the CGI reference number or transaction number printed on your receipt.

See the table below for processing timelines.

If payment is made through online bank transfer, please note that CGI is not responsible for delays created by your bank. Please check with you bank to determine the processing timeframes for online bank transfers. Payment made over weekends and national holidays may be subject to additional delays.

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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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USCIS Immigrant Fee

If you are immigrating to the United States as a lawful permanent resident, you must  pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online unless you meet one of the exemptions below.

We use this fee to process your immigrant visa packet and produce your Permanent Resident Card (commonly known as a Green Card).

Learn more about paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee by selecting a category from the list below.

The payment site is designed to work with all mobile and desktop browsers. If you have a technical issue related to browser compatibility, we recommend downloading the latest version of Google Chrome. If you still have problems, you may request technical support within your account from the help page.

We strongly encourage you to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee  after  you pick up your immigrant visa from the Department of State and  before  you depart for the United States.

If you cannot pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee, a family member, friend, employer, attorney, or accredited representative can pay for you. If someone pays the fee for you, they will need your Alien Number (A-Number) and Department of State (DOS) Case ID.

You may also pay the fee after you arrive in the United States. If you choose this option, we will send you a notice requesting payment with instructions on paying your fee. You will not receive your Green Card until you have paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee.

The following groups do not have to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee:

• Children who enter the United States under the orphan or Hague adoption programs;
• Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants;
• Other Afghan nationals (through Sept. 30, 2024);
• Returning lawful permanent residents (SB-1s); and
• K nonimmigrants.

You must pay the fee online.  The U.S. embassy or consulate will give you your:

• A-Number (the letter “A” followed by 8 or 9 numbers);
• DOS Case ID (3 letters followed by 9 or 10 numbers);
• Instructions for paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee;
• Immigrant Data Summary; and
• Sealed immigrant visa packet.

If you are a Diversity Visa immigrant, your DOS Case ID will have 4 numbers followed by 2 letters and 5 more numbers (for example: 0000AB01234).

Payment Methods

To pay a fee, you can use a:

• Credit card
• If you pay with a pre-paid debit card, you may use only 1 card. The card must have enough money on it to pay for you and any family members.
• To pay with a U.S. bank account, you must provide a U.S. checking account number and routing number for your U.S. bank.

If you have a problem paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee, see our  Need Help page .

Failure to Pay

If you do not pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee within the time listed in the notice, you will not receive your Green Card. If you do not pay the fee, it will not affect your status as a lawful permanent resident. However, you will only have evidence of your lawful permanent status for 1 year from the date of your admission, as shown by the temporary I-551 stamp CBP placed in your passport when you entered the United States.

To track the status of your Green Card, please go to the Case Status Online page.

We will only mail your Green Card to the U.S. mailing address you give to the Department of State during your immigrant visa interview or to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer when you are admitted to the United States. If you plan on living at a different U.S. address immediately after you enter the United States, please give that address to the CBP officer to ensure you receive your Green Card.

If you do not receive your Green Card within 90 days of paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee or entering the United States (if you paid the fee before you arrived) please submit our  online help form  to request assistance. You can also submit an inquiry online using our e-request tool .

Please make sure that USCIS and the post office have your correct mailing address.

• We will mail your Green Card to the most recent U.S. mailing address that we have on file. This could be the address you provided to the DOS at the time of your immigrant visa interview or to the CBP officer when you are admitted to the United States.
• If you plan on living at a different U.S. address immediately after you enter the United States, please give that address to the CBP officer or update your address (after taking the identity verification quiz and creating your USCIS online account) to ensure that your card arrives at your new home.
• If you move after you arrive in the United States, please update your address with USCIS through your USCIS online account . Also, we recommend that you update your address online with the U.S. Postal Service  or by visiting your local U.S. post office.  Please visit our page on How To Change Your Address for additional information.  

This fee is not related to the immigrant visa application fees collected by DOS. Go to the  Our Fees  page to see what the current USCIS Immigrant Fee is.

For more information, read the  How Do I Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee  (PDF, 162.07 KB) applicant guide.

You can find step-by-step instructions in the  Immigrant Fee Payment Guide .

If you have any questions about paying the fee, or if you accidentally paid twice or otherwise feel you paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee in error, you can submit an online help form .

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Venice Launches Tourist Entry Fee: 6 Facts to Know

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

April 26th, 2024 at 2:33 PM EDT

Venice is likely the first city to charge a fee to access its central area. Using entry fees, Venice is testing a system to manage tourist flows.

Dawit Habtemariam

Day tourists are now charged an entry toll whenever they set foot in Venice’s historic center during peak periods. The city began charging day tourists an entry fee of 5 euros (around $5.30) on Thursday.

Tourists can register and pay the fee on a government website or pay when they enter the city. A QR code will be sent to their phone, which inspectors can spot-check as tourists wander the city.

Why it matter s

Venice is one of the world’s most popular destinations. The city and its surrounding region had over 13 million tourists in 2023, according to the Italian government . 

The fragile city has had problems with overtourism. Last year, UNESCO considered adding Venice to its list of endangered World Heritage sites . 

The city’s mayor said the program is a test of an attempt to curb overtourism. 

Here are six key facts about the new tourist fee:

1. Tourists who don’t pay the fee could be fined

The city has 35 inspectors who will randomly check on tourists who make it past the entrance point without paying the fee. Inspectors will fine those who break the rules. 

On the first day, nearly 14,000 people were checked.

2. Venice is checking tourists at entry points

At the train, bus, and main entrance points, city “stewards” will check tourists’ QR codes and collect fees from tourists if they don’t have one. 

The city has employed 35 steward inspectors in 15 control points, including the train and bus stations. 

3. The entry fee system is a pilot program and makes some exceptions 

The test spans 28 days, through July 14. The fee is charged on peak days in April, May, June and July. 

“The experimentation will be medium-long, we must collect data and information to then calibrate the system,” said the city in a statement .

Residents, tourists staying in hotels, students, commuters , and those born in Venice are exempt from paying the entry fee. 

4. Some locals have protested

According to news outlets, around 300 locals protested the new fee on the first day. Some residents said these protests were smaller than recent ones criticizing the growth of the cruise industry’s impact on the city. 

“I was expecting many more people for yesterday’s bank holiday in Italy, St.Mark’s Day, and in comparison to previous protests,” said Anthony La Salandra, a Venice resident of 20 years and managing director for Riposte Turismo, a tourism research and consulting firm.

“Anyone who thinks there is a silver bullet or a single solution to resolve complex situations in today’s global tourism is wrong,” La Salandra told Skift.

5. The early impact is modest, given the off-season

On day one, less than 16,000 tourists paid the entry fee. So far, 113,000 people have registered, of which 15,700 paid. The other registered people were exempt from paying the fee.

The entry fee is only about $5.30 (€5). So it will be tough to deter some travelers, considering international travelers often have big budgets.

The city is considering other actions. Earlier this year, it started limiting group tour sizes to 25. Overnight tourists already pay a hotel tax.

6. The entry fee may not last

Some critics believe the entry-fee scheme, proposed for years, is more about raising money than combatting overtourism because they question whether it will effectively address the problem. 

A survey by Les Ailes de Venise , a group of self-styled advocates for the city, found that a majority supported the fee only if it helped finance conservation efforts.

However, other efforts to expand Venice tourism are ongoing, such as the possible construction of budget hotels in the Mestre region and the expansion of the nearby Marco Polo airport.

Venice Combats Overtourism: Caps Tour Group Sizes and Bans Loudspeakers

Capping tour group sizes may help mitigate overcrowding in Venice. But the city needs to do more.

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Tags: italy , overtourism , tourism , venice

Photo credit: Venice Grand Canal, Italy. Dan Novac on Unsplash Dan Novac / Unsplash

Venice launches world first tourist entrance fee in bid to fight overcrowding

VENICE, Italy — Ancient and beautiful, this city is sometimes referred to as an open air museum — and now visitors to Venice will have to pay an entry fee after the tourist hub on Thursday became the first in the world to introduce a charging system for day-trippers.

In a bid to thin out the crowds that throng to see the canals, bridges and striking architecture during vacation season, day-trippers will have to pay 5 euros ($5.35) to enter the lagoon city on 29 peak days, mostly on weekends, as part of a trial phase until July 14. 

Tourists who have booked at least one night at a hotel in the city will be exempt from the charge, as will residents, workers and students in the city. Visitors under age 14 will also be exempt. But like the day-trippers, they will also have to ensure they have registered online and received QR codes.  

Those without smartphones will have to go to the city’s Santa Lucia train station to buy tickets. 

Among the thousands of people lining up at the station for a ticket Thursday was Donna Porter-Mutchler, a tourist from Tennessee, who told NBC News she thought the charge was “a wonderful idea.”  

“Venice deserves to be taken care of,” she said. “I think it’s more than worth it. I come here often, and I’ll pay every time.” 

While there will be no limits on the number of people who can register, officials hope the fee will put people off on days it applies. 

“We are not looking to collect money, tax people or introduce a police state,” Simone Venturini, Venice’s tourism councilor, told NBC News. “We are being democratic about it, but the important message is: ‘Please, if you are a day-tripper, choose another day.’”

While there are no turnstiles at the city’s entrance points to make sure people have passes, inspectors will make random checks and issue fines of 50 to 300 euros to anyone who has failed to register.

Prominent signs across the city and a TV and newspaper advertising campaign have been launched in Italy and some other countries to let people know about it. And with the help of artificial intelligence , Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has also recorded a video message in several languages to inform tourists about the charge.  

Officials in the city estimate an average of 50,000 people a day visit Venice, an influx that almost matches the resident population, some of whom are unhappy about the new charge.  

“Venice has turned into Disneyland, where tourists are catered more than residents, and charging $5 is not going to stop anyone,” Federica Toninello of the Social Assembly for Housing and the Solidarity Network for Housing in Venice said Thursday. “It’s just propaganda.”

Others, like tourist guide Luisella Romeo, said they were concerned about the use of personal data collected by the new system. “That’s an invasion of privacy. Those details will remain in the system for five years and could be given to third parties, public and private,” she said. 

But officials in the city, which narrowly escaped being placed on UNESCO’s “World Heritage in Danger” list last year, in part because the United Nations body decided that it was not addressing concerns that its delicate ecosystem risked being overwhelmed by mass tourism, have insisted that something needed to be done. 

Three years ago, large cruise ships were banned from sailing into the Venetian lagoon , and the city has also announced limits on the sizes of tourist groups.

While the charge in Venice is still in its experimental stage, other popular Italian tourism destinations, like Lake Como, which has struggled with overcrowding for years, are watching closely.

Only time will tell whether it ends up dead in the water.  

Claudio Lavanga is Rome-based foreign correspondent for NBC News.

Venice becomes first city to charge a daily tourist fee

O n Thursday, Venice, Italy became the first city in the world to charge day tourists a fee  just to visit its historic canals and other attractions on peak days. 

The measure is designed to counter over-tourism and mitigate the deleterious impact large crowds can have on some of the city's fragile sites, while also persuading some tourists to visit during less busy times of the year.  

The roughly $5.37 fee only applies on 29 days that are deemed to be the busiest between April 25, a holiday in Italy, and July 14, in a trial phase of the reservation-and-fee system. 

Most people entering the city must register and obtain a QR code, or a ticket for visitors without smartphones, but some tourists are exempt from paying the fee. For instance, visitors who spend the night in a hotel or Airbnb-style accommodation are not subject to the nominal tourist fee. Likewise, residents, people born in Venice, people visiting relatives who are residents, workers, students and visitors under the age of 14 do not have to pay either.

There is no cap on the number of tourists who may reserve a visit on a given day. 

In a public video, Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice, called the new system an "experiment" to protect the city. 

"We do it with great humility," he said. In a social media post , he added that the rollout was "going well" and "the atmosphere is relaxed."

Simone Venturini, the tourism councilor of Venice, added, "The whole world would like to visit Venice, and this is an honor for us. But not everyone in the world is able to do so on the exact same day."

Experts are skeptical the tourist charge will meaningfully reduce crowds or generate enough money to cover the costs associated with accommodating large numbers of visitors, like managing water and waste.  

"For cities like Venice, most research shows that an additional tax does not lower arrivals, as is often contended," Megan Epler Wood, managing director at the Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program (STAMP) at Cornell University, said in a statement. "In order to address the invisible burden of tourism, new destination management entities will need to determine the cost per tourist to ensure there is an equitable and sustainable use of local resources. Once such costs are determined, tax reform will be required to cover these costs."

Some residents protested the new policy on Thursday, according to media reports. Some were seen clashing with riot police, while others tried to break through a blockade, CNBC reported .

The fragile lagoon city has a population of roughly 50,000, a sliver of what it was a couple of generations ago. On its busiest days, it can draw nearly as many tourists as it has residents.

A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage property, the city features masterpieces from Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto and others. 

Pay to enter: Venice becomes the first city to implement a tourist ticket system

Venice became the first city in the world on Thursday to introduce a payment system for visitors in an experiment aimed at dissuading tourists from arriving during peak periods.

However, it isn't the only place in Italy that has recently introduced new measures aimed at slowing tourist flows.

Here are some of the initiatives currently in force.

Venice tourist tax

The lagoon city has introduced 5 euros (about $5.35) tickets for day trippers, valid from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The experiment came into force on April 25, a national holiday in Italy. Tickets will be needed for the following 10 days and thereafter for most weekends until mid-July.

Venice residents, students, workers, and homeowners are exempt from paying or booking a slot. Visitors aged under 14 and tourists with hotel reservations will need to register, but access for them will be free of charge.

Other cities, such as Como, have said they are considering introducing a similar measure but are waiting to see how the Venice initiative works before deciding.

In addition, Venice has said that from June, it will limit the size of tourist groups to 25 people and ban the use of loudspeakers by tour guides.

Florence tourist measure

Florence announced in October that it was banning new short-term residential lets on platforms such as Airbnb in its historic center. It also offered three years of tax breaks to landlords of short-term holiday lets who start offering ordinary leases for residents.

The city's famous museum, the Uffizi, offers discounts to people who arrive before 8.55 a.m. and lower prices off-season. To spread out crowds, it also closes at 10 p.m. once a week.

Cinque Terrer overtourism

The five villages that make up the Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera regularly get swamped with visitors.

To try to reduce the overcrowding at peak periods, the authority which oversees the area said this week it would charge visitors 15 euros (about $16) to walk the most celebrated coastal path. In addition, the path can only be walked in one direction.

Capri tourism measure

The picturesque small island that lies across the bay from the southern city of Naples has doubled its entry fee, which is automatically added to ferry tickets, to 5 euros. The fee will be charged from April 1 to October 1.

Capri, Ischia, Procida, Lampedusa and Linosa changes

These islands have introduced limits, or outright bans, on cars for non-residents during the main tourist season.

Update April 12, 2024

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NVC Fee Payment FAQs

Can the Affidavit of Support (AOS) Fee or IV Application Processing Fee be paid at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate instead of submitting fees to the NVC?

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Affidavit of Support (AOS) Fee

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Is there a fee to review the Affidavit of Support at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad?

Immigrant Visa (IV) Fee

Who has to pay the Immigrant Visa (IV) Application Processing Fee?

Online Payment

Will I need a user account and password?

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I paid the fees but the status isn’t showing as “Paid.” Do I need to repay?

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No, fees must be paid to NVC using the online using CEAC. Do NOT attempt to make payments by mail. If you cannot pay online, please send a screenshot to NVC by using the Public Inquiry Form for assistance.

No, all payments must be made in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank.

No, NVC cannot accept personal checks or credit card payments.

Please send a screenshot to NVC by using the  Public Inquiry Form for assistance. Do NOT attempt to make payments by mail.

There is only one AOS fee charged per case.

Yes, anyone with the login information can log into CEAC and pay the AOS fee.

Yes, the AOS and IV fees can both be paid online. However, the online payment system will require you to pay them separately, so there will be two transactions from your bank account.

You must pay the Affidavit of Support fee for each case unless you are petitioning for your spouse and/or child(ren) and submit your Affidavit of Support for each case to the NVC at the same time.

The following categories of immigrants are required to pay the AOS fee:

• Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under age 21, and parents of U.S. citizens age 21 and older)
• Family-based preference immigrants (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident aliens, married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens age 21 and older)

Whos is not required to pay the AOS fee?

If you are not required to submit an Affidavit of Support form, you do not need to pay an AOS fee. For a list of scenarios that do not need to submit an Affidavit of Support form and do not need to pay an AOS fee, please visit https://nvc.state.gov/aos . The most common exemptions are for applicants with 40 quarters of creditable employment under the SSA and for applicants who will immediately gain U.S. citizenship upon entry to the U.S. under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

Note: Failure to pay an AOS fee when required will delay your case.

No, when the Form I-130 petition and subsequent Affidavit of Support (AOS) form is filed outside the United States, a fee is not charged.

Each applicant intending to immigrate to the United States must pay the IV fee.

You will need the following information from the fee letter that you received from NVC:

• Case Number
• Invoice Identification Number

You will also need your bank's routing number and your checking (or savings) account number. For checking accounts this information is available at the bottom of one of your checks.

Affidavit of Support Fee payments will appear as NVC AOS FEE. Immigrant Visa Fee payments will appear as NVC IV FEE. If you are not sure what a particular payment is, contact your financial institution. They can help identify the payment history.

All online AOS and IV payments are processed by the Department of Treasury through the Immigrant Visa Invoice Payment Center.

Yes, the Department of State uses 128-bit SSL encryption to protect your transaction information while you are logged into the Immigrant Visa Invoice Payment Center. No routing or account number information is stored on the Department of State’s servers.

If the problem occurred before you entered your payment information, you can close your browser, log back in, and try again. If you submitted your payment information and then experienced a problem, contact the National Visa Center before trying again by using the Public Inquiry Form .

Once you submit your bank account information, there will be a delay while the bank processes your payment request. This typically takes two to three business days. During that time, your status will show as “In Process.” Once the bank confirms your payment, your status will change to “Paid.” You will then be able to open and complete the Form DS-260 Immigrant Visa Application.

The Department of State will not automatically send you notification that your payment was successfully completed; however, you can print or e-mail a receipt in CEAC once you make your payment.

Who's Involved

National Visa Center: After petition approval, the National Visa Center (NVC) handles processing for certain kinds of documents, sending them onward to U.S. Embassies & Consulates. When and how to Contact NVC .

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Fee Payment Information

Each non-immigrant applicant, including children, is required to pay a non-refundable, non transferable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee, regardless of whether a visa is issued. The visa application fee is determined by the type of visa the applicant is applying for.

To find out the non-immigrant visa fee applicable for you, please click ' Visa Fees '

Fee Payment Options:

Please note that you must wait for 4 hours from the time of payment of your MRV application fee before you can use it to schedule your interview appointment.(For more details please refer the table given below*) Whether you schedule your appointment online or call our call center, you will have to provide your passport number and receipt purchase date** before you will be allowed to schedule your visa interview appointment.

Online Payment (through BPI online payment): Please note that applicants holding an account with Bank of Philippine Island (BPI) may opt to pay their MRV application fee online using Bank of Philippines(BPI) internet banking. For availing this payment option an applicant must obtain an UID by creating his online Profile with us. On receipt of the UID, you are required to make note of this UID number as it is mandatory to use this number to transfer visa fees through online payment option provided by Bank of Philippine Island (BPI).

NOTE: Please key in the correct UID in the transaction description field this will allow you to schedule the visa interview appointment within 4 hours from the time of payment.(For more details please refer the below table*) On absence/incorrect UID number captured, the transaction will not be recognized. Visa fees are nonrefundable.

To create your Profile and pay your MRV fee online, please click here.

NOTE: Please key in the correct UID in the transaction description field this will allow you to schedule the visa interview appointment on subsequent bank working day from the time of payment.(For more details please refer below table*) On absence/incorrect UID number captured, the transaction will not be recognized. Visa fees are nonrefundable.

To create your Profile and pay your MRV fee online, please click here .

IMPORTANT: Please note that you must wait for one day from the time of payment of your MRV application fee before you can use it for scheduling your interview appointment. .(For more details please refer below table*) Whether you schedule your appointment online or call our call centre, you will have to provide the passport number and receipt purchase date** before you will be allowed to schedule your visa interview appointment.

*You may refer the below table for the corresponding times by which an applicant can book an appointment.

If you have any questions regarding the consular currency exchange rate, please contact the call center for assistance.

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What to Know About Venice’s Fees for Day Trips

Venice is trying to mitigate overtourism with a small fee on busy days. City leaders hope it will make visitors more aware of the city’s fragility.

By Elisabetta Povoledo

Reporting from Rome

After years of debate , Venice on Thursday began charging day visitors five euros to visit its fragile historic center on peak days, making it the first city in the world to adopt such a measure to counter overtourism.

Critics question whether a nominal fee will put people off from visiting one of the world’s most desired destinations. But officials hope that it might encourage some to rethink their plans and decide to come on weekdays or in the off-season.

That might help mitigate the impact of the estimated 20 million visitors who descended last year on the city’s beleaguered residents, who number fewer than 50,000, according to municipal statistics . About half of those visitors came only for the day, city officials said. Overnight guests are exempt from the fee.

The spirit of the initiative, city officials have said, is to make people aware of the uniqueness — and fragility — of Venice. Overtourism is creating an economy solely based on tourism that risks killing the city by pushing its dwindling residents out, said Nicola Camatti, an economics professor and expert in tourism at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

When will Venice start charging?

The fee went into effect on Thursday, a holiday in Italy. For 2024, city officials have singled out 29 peak days when single-day travelers in Venice between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. have to pay. The days run until mid-July and are mostly on national holidays and weekends. The access-fee website provides a list of the dates.

Who must pay?

While just about everyone visiting the city has to register to obtain a QR code, not all visitors have to pay the fee. Overnight guests at registered accommodations like hotels or Airbnbs are exempt, because they already pay a daily tourist tax, as are people who study or work in Venice and those visiting relatives. There are other exemptions as well.

Residents of Venice, those born there and minors under 14 are among those who do not have to register. But they must have documents that prove their status.

It is possible that different fees will apply next year on a sliding scale that will depend on how many people city officials expect on any one day. City officials said the fees could be as high as 10 euros per day.

How will the system work?

Before coming to Venice on peak days, visitors should use the website to register and get a QR code.

The code will be scanned at points where visitors enter, like the train station, the city parking lot, the airport and the sprawling waterfront along the San Marco basin where boats dock. The access points will have one line for tourists and another for residents and what officials call city users, who are coming into Venice for reasons other than sightseeing.

At least for now, those who do not register ahead of time can do so at some access points or on their cellphones, officials said. Assistants will be available.

Initially, the controls will be “very soft,” said Michele Zuin, the municipal councilor responsible for the city’s budget.

Speaking to reporters at the foreign press association in Rome this month, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said the fee was not about cashing in on tourists. “The costs of the operation are higher than what we’re going to make,” he said.

Why is Venice doing this?

City officials hope to relieve some of the stress that tourists put on the city by encouraging them to come on less busy days. They also say that by knowing ahead of time how many visitors to expect, the city can better deploy services.

“We want to better manage the numbers of tourists and disincentivize mass tourism” that makes it difficult for residents and visitors to “live in this city,” Mr. Zuin said this month.

To track the flow of visitors, the city already monitors them via phone location data and surveillance cameras, a system some critics have likened to Big Brother .

Venice has also fallen under the scrutiny of the United Nations’ culture agency, UNESCO, whose experts are concerned that not enough is being done to protect the city. Last year, Venice risked being added to UNESCO’s list of Endangered World Heritage Sites after experts at the agency listed mass tourism , along with climate change and development, as a major threat to its future. It urged City Hall to take steps to ameliorate the damage.

The municipal council approved the access fee just days before UNESCO was to vote on its status, and Venice stayed off the “in danger” list . But UNESCO officials said in a statement that “further progress still needs to be made” to conserve Venice.

Critics of the access fee note that officials have not capped the number of visitors, and they say that the nominal fee is hardly a deterrent. As recently as Friday, city officials said that about 80,000 visitors swelled the city’s narrow calli, as the streets are known, and the gardens of the 2024 Venice Biennale , still the world’s principal place to discover new art .

How else is Venice trying to restrict visitors?

Venice also has taken other steps it hopes will reduce what city officials call “mordi e fuggi” tourism, or “eat and flee,” referring to those who seek the city’s greatest hits — the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square — and who bring packed lunches and dump their garbage, contributing little to the local economy.

After years of heated debate and protests by vocal Venetians, the city banned cruise ships from its inner canals in 2021 , though Mr. Camatti, the tourism expert, said the ban on the ships had not reduced the number of day visitors.

This year, the city imposed a limit of 25 people per tour group and also banned the use of megaphones.

Elisabetta Povoledo is a reporter based in Rome, covering Italy, the Vatican and the culture of the region. She has been a journalist for 35 years. More about Elisabetta Povoledo