Bank and Payment Options/Pay My Visa Fee

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Overview

In most cases, each visa applicant, including children, is required to pay a non-refundable, non-transferable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee, whether a visa is issued or not. The visa application fee is determined by the type of visa for which you wish to apply.

Remember, the MRV fee is non-refundable. Please confirm whether or not you need to apply for a visa. You may not need to apply for a new U.S. visa if you already hold a valid U.S. visa or are a national of a Visa Waiver Program participating country.

Certain individuals may not need to pay an MRV fee, for example:

  • 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, you do not need to pay the MRV fee.

Certain individuals may not need a visa, for example:

  • 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.

For more information about fee exemptions, please visit this page.

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 visa and submitting your application through interview waiver. 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 Consular Section of U.S. Embassy or Consulate General.

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

Instructions to Pay Your Visa fee

There are several options to pay your MRV visa fee by cash at CITIC bank, Smart Counter, or online. Each of these options is paid within our online applicant system. Whether you pay with Alipay, online, cash or via the Smart Counter with CITIC, CGI, CITIC, Alipay or the US Embassy cannot provide you with a Chinese fapiao or shouju. For Alipay users - You can get a proof of the visa application fee payment from your Alipay payment records in your Alipay wallet. If you have any question on how to get such proof of payment from your Alipay account, you can call 95188 or chat online with an Alipay customer service team member and ask for instructions for obtaining one. You must first register on the applicant site and choose the ‘schedule your appointment’ option to access the payment options. See below for the steps.

Step 1

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

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Once you are on the Payment screen, click on Payment Options. For additional information on paying with a specific method, review the Alipay, cash at CITIC bank, Smart Counter and online payment on this page.

The RMB amounts are based on the consular currency exchange rate determined by the U.S. Department of State. Applicants who do not pay the correct fee for their visa type may be restricted from scheduling an interview.

Step 4

Pick your preferred method of payment and pay your visa fee. 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.

Step 5

Save your receipt number. After you have paid the visa application fee, print your receipt number for your records. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

Step 6

You have paid your visa fee and can schedule your interview immediately with your receipt number.

Fee Payment Options

Payment with Alipay

Select the Alipay option on the payment page:

Click on Pay:

You will be directed to the Alipay page with a QR code on it that reflects the amount of the visa fee(s) you have purchased:

Scan it with your mobile phone:


As you completed the payment with your mobile phone, you will receive the following screen to confirm the payment was successful:

You will then be directed to the ustraveldocs.com website again. Before you click on “Continue”, ensure you take a screenshot of the page and/or write down or copy-paste the receipt number. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

Ensure your Payment Receipt number is in the box below and click “Continue”:


Online with CITIC Bank

Please note: Union Pay Debit Card holders will be charged a fee of 0.3% for this service. This charge is levied by Union Pay and not CGI.

The most convenient payment method for your nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application fee is online with a debit card issued by a Chinese bank. The system will not accept credit cards. Once you log into your profile, you will be given the opportunity to pay by debit card on the payment screen.

You can only pay online using a debit card issued by a Chinese bank. You may not pay online with a credit card, or with a debit card issued outside of China. If you have difficulty processing your debit card payment online, you may need to contact your issuing bank to activate the card's online payment function. If you do not have a Chinese debit card, please select another fee payment option.

After you have paid the visa application fee, you will be prompted to schedule your interview.

Cash at CITIC Bank

You can pay your nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application fee in cash at any of branch of CITIC Bank. Before going to the bank, you must print and carry the applicable U.S. visa fee collection slip available after logging into your profile. You must bring your passport and the printed deposit slip with you to pay your fee.

DO NOT PRINT MULTIPLE COPIES OF THE DEPOSIT SLIP. Each member of a family or group should be considered as a separate transaction. You must print a unique deposit slip for each transaction. You must bring your passport and the printed deposit slip with you to pay your fee. Upon payment, you will receive a receipt.

Save your receipt with the visa fee receipt number. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

Smart Counter at CITIC Bank

Please note: As of January 1, 2017, Union pay will levy a fee of 0.49% on top of the visa fee for applicants who use non-CITIC bank cards to pay their visa fee through Smart Counter. There will be an upper limit of 17 RMB for the fee charged for each transaction. 

Effective March 17, 2018, you can pay your nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application fee via more than 4,700 Smart Counters at 1,400 China CITIC Bank branches in Mainland China.

Before going to pay via Smart Counter at CITIC bank, you must create a profile in our online system and print the CGI reference number. Smart Counter accepts payment made with any China Union Pay Debit Card.

At the Smart Counter, you will enter your card details, the CGI reference number and your telephone number.On completion of a successful payment, you will be issued a receipt containing the visa fee receipt number which you must retain to complete the appointment scheduling process either online or through the service center.

Please insert your bank card and enter the password to proceed.

Please enter your CGI reference number and telephone number to proceed.

Click “Search” button. The CGI reference number, telephone number, visa fee amount, number of payments, sur-charge will be shown on the screen for you to check and confirm.

Following is a confirmation of successful payment with the visa fee receipt number and amount of fee.

After you have paid the visa application fee, you can click “Send SMS” button to send the receipt number to your mobile phone.

It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your visa fee receipt number.

Scheduling Your Interview

Whether you schedule your appointment online or contact our call center, you will need the receipt number printed on your receipt. See the number circled in red in the receipt example below for a cash payment at CITIC bank. You can schedule your interview immediately with your visa fee receipt number.