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How to Pay the U.S. Visa Fee in Algeria
Algeria uses the USTravelDocs system. Interviews are held at the U.S. Embassy in Algiers.
Algeria is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so Algerian citizens need a visa for any trip to the United States — there is no ESTA route, and the DS-160 and this fee apply to tourism as much as to study or work.
Payment methods in Algeria
| Method | Currency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash at a BDL branch | DZD | Designated Banque de Développement Local locations. Cheques are not accepted |
| Online card | DZD | Credit or debit, in dinars |
| Online card via Elavon | USD | Mastercard |
Dinar amounts follow the consular exchange rate set by the Department of State, not your bank's rate, and they move with it.
The deposit slip expires — this is the one to watch
If you are paying cash at BDL, you print a deposit slip from your profile and take it to the branch. That slip carries an expiration date.
- If the date passes before you pay, BDL will refuse it. The slip is dead, not merely old.
- The fix is free and takes a minute: go back to the site and generate a new deposit slip.
- Pay the exact amount printed on the slip. Not the rounded figure, not last week's figure.
So printing the slip days ahead "to be organised" is the thing that catches people out. Print it when you are actually going to the bank.
Two more ways a payment fails here
Your card's billing address must match. On the dinar card option, any inconsistency in the billing address can cause the payment to be declined — and a declined payment delays the application, because you cannot book until a payment posts.
The receipt cannot be replaced. Keep the deposit slip and the receipt the cashier gives you. You need the CGI reference number and the receipt number to schedule the interview, and if the receipt is lost there is no reissue. Photograph it before you leave the bank.
Step-by-step
- Submit your DS-160 and keep the barcode confirmation page.
- Create a profile on the USTravelDocs site for Algeria and start an application.
- Choose the correct visa class before paying. Paying the wrong amount for your type can block you from scheduling.
- Pick a method. For cash, print the deposit slip on the day.
- Pay — cash at BDL, card in DZD, or Elavon in USD.
- Keep the receipt and the CGI reference number.
- Wait for activation, then book your interview in Algiers.
How long before you can book
Allow up to one business day from the time of payment for the receipt to activate — Monday to Friday, excluding U.S. and Algerian public holidays.
The two holiday calendars do not overlap, so a working day in Algiers is not necessarily a processing day for the system. Pay early in the week if your timing is tight.
Fee amounts
- $185 — B visitor, F and M student, J exchange, C transit, D crew, I media
- $205 — H, L, O, P, Q, R petition-based work visas
- $315 — E treaty trader and investor
- $265 — K fiancé(e)
Questions commonly searched in Algeria
Can I pay the U.S. visa fee online in Algeria?
Yes — by card in dinars, or by Mastercard in U.S. dollars through Elavon. Cash at a BDL branch is the in-person alternative.
Can I pay the visa fee by cheque?
No. BDL accepts cash only for this fee.
My deposit slip has expired. Do I lose the money?
No, because an expired slip means you have not paid yet. Generate a new deposit slip from the site and take that one to the bank. BDL will not accept the expired slip.
I lost my payment receipt. Can I get another one?
No. The receipt cannot be replaced, and you need its number to schedule the interview. Keep it with your passport, and photograph it as soon as you receive it.
Do Algerians need a visa for the United States?
Yes. Algeria is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so there is no ESTA option — every traveller needs a visa, and therefore a DS-160 and this fee.
Official sources
- USTravelDocs Algeria — bank and payment options
- U.S. Embassy in Algeria
- Department of State fee schedule
Paying from a nearby country
The bank, currency and appointment service differ by country: