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How to Pay the U.S. Visa Fee in Cambodia
Cambodia uses the USTravelDocs system, with support at support-cambodia@usvisascheduling.com. Interviews are held at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh.
The fee is payable in U.S. dollars
This is where Cambodia differs from almost every other country. Most convert the fee into local currency at the consular exchange rate. Cambodia's payment page states the fee is payable in United States dollars — there is no riel card option, and no local-currency amount to work out.
That has one practical effect worth knowing in advance: the online route is a U.S. dollar Mastercard payment, and charges may apply. There is no online payment in riel to fall back on, so if you do not have a Mastercard, your route is cash.
Payment methods in Cambodia
| Method | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | Any Cathay United Bank branch | Deposit slip and passport required. No cheques |
| Cash | VFS Global | Same requirements |
| Card (Mastercard) | Online | USD. Charges may apply |
Card activates immediately. Cash waits until noon the next day.
Cambodia publishes an actual timing table rather than a vague estimate, and the difference between the two routes is large enough to decide whether you get the slot you want:
| Paid by | You can schedule | Number you use |
|---|---|---|
| Cash at Cathay United Bank or VFS Global | After 12:00 p.m. the next business day | CGI reference number |
| USD Mastercard online | Usually immediately | Receipt number |
So a cash payment made on Friday afternoon is not bookable until after midday on Monday. If appointment availability is tight, the card route is worth the charges.
And if you paid by card and the receipt has not activated straight away: do not pay again. Wait for it to activate. A second payment is a second non-refundable fee, not a fix — email the support address instead.
What to bring to the bank
- The printed deposit slip from your profile, carrying your CGI reference number.
- Your passport, for identification.
Three things to get right:
- Do not print multiple copies of the same deposit slip.
- Watch the expiration date. An expired slip is refused by both Cathay United Bank and VFS Global. Generate a fresh one from the site — it costs nothing.
- Pay the exact amount shown on the slip.
Keep the reference number
Save the payment reference or receipt number as soon as you have it. It cannot be replaced if lost, and without it you cannot schedule the interview.
Step-by-step
- Submit your DS-160 and keep the barcode confirmation page.
- Create a profile on the USTravelDocs site for Cambodia and select Start Application.
- Answer each question carefully — the visa type you declare sets the amount you owe.
- On the payment screen, choose your method. For cash, print the deposit slip on the day you are going.
- Pay, and save the reference number immediately.
- Schedule once the receipt is active — immediately for card, after noon the next business day for cash.
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)
Paying the wrong amount for your visa type can stop you from scheduling — see paying against the wrong visa class before you pay.
Questions commonly searched in Cambodia
Do I pay the U.S. visa fee in riel or dollars?
In U.S. dollars. Cambodia's payment page states the fee is payable in USD, and the online card route is a U.S. dollar Mastercard payment.
Where can I pay the fee in cash?
At any Cathay United Bank branch or at VFS Global, with the printed deposit slip and your passport. Cheques are not accepted.
How soon can I book after paying?
Immediately, if you paid by USD Mastercard. After 12:00 p.m. the next business day if you paid cash.
My card payment has not activated. Should I pay again?
No. A second payment is a second non-refundable fee. Wait for activation and contact support-cambodia@usvisascheduling.com if it does not appear.
I lost my receipt number. Can it be reissued?
No. It cannot be replaced, and you cannot schedule without it.
Official sources
- USTravelDocs Cambodia — bank and payment options
- U.S. Embassy in Cambodia
- Department of State fee schedule