Last reviewed: August 30, 2026
How to Pay the U.S. Visa Fee in Saudi Arabia
The DS-160 itself has no submission fee. Applicants in Saudi Arabia pay the separate nonimmigrant visa application (consular) fee through the official U.S. visa appointment service before an interview can be scheduled.
Important change: Saudi National Bank (SNB) branches stopped accepting U.S. consular fee payments on February 7, 2025. Only the options below are authorized — payments made anywhere else cannot be used to schedule an appointment.
Payment methods in Saudi Arabia
The official Saudi Arabia payment options page currently lists three methods:
- Cash at any of the 11 VFS Visa Application Centers (VAC): print the U.S. Visa Deposit slip from your profile, bring valid government-issued ID, and pay the exact SAR amount before the slip's expiration date. Cheques are not accepted, and expired slips are refused.
- Mada debit card online in SAR: for cards issued in Saudi Arabia, through the payment portal in your profile. The billing address must match your card.
- USD credit/debit card via Elavon: U.S.-issued Mastercard only — other cards are declined and refunds can take days to release.
Official reference: the Saudi Arabia bank and payment options page lists VFS VAC cash, Mada in SAR, and USD Mastercard, notes the SNB change, and states receipts activate for scheduling per the standard processing time. Check the live page before paying.
Step-by-step payment process
- Submit the DS-160 and save the confirmation page.
- Create a profile on the official Saudi Arabia visa service and select Start Application (visa type, post, category, class).
- On the payment options screen, verify the number of applicants, visa category, and SAR amount (set at the consular exchange rate).
- Pay cash at a VFS VAC with the printed slip, by Mada online, or by U.S.-issued Mastercard in USD.
- Keep the CGI reference/receipt number safe — it cannot be replaced if lost, and you cannot schedule without it.
- Once the receipt activates, schedule the interview from your profile.
Saudi Arabia-specific payment rules
- The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, whether or not a visa is issued, and can be used for scheduling for one year from payment.
- If a payment appears to fail, do not pay again — email support-SaudiArabia@usvisascheduling.com with your reference. Duplicates are not refunded.
- Do not pay at SNB or any unlisted vendor — such payments are your own responsibility and cannot be used to schedule.
- Paying the wrong amount for your visa class can block scheduling.
- F, M, and J students and exchange visitors also owe a separate SEVIS fee on fmjfee.com — the consular fee does not cover it.
Questions commonly searched in Saudi Arabia
How much is the U.S. visa fee in riyals?
The fee is set in U.S. dollars — $185 for B visitor and F/M/J student visas, higher for petition-based categories — and the SAR amount follows the State Department's consular exchange rate. Confirm the current amount on the Department of State fee schedule.
Can I still pay at Saudi National Bank?
No. SNB stopped accepting consular fee payments on February 7, 2025. Use a VFS VAC, Mada online, or a U.S.-issued Mastercard in USD.
Can I pay with my Saudi credit card online?
Use the Mada debit option in SAR for Saudi-issued cards. The USD option accepts U.S.-issued Mastercard only.
I lost my receipt. Can I get another?
No — the receipt cannot be replaced, and its number is required for scheduling. Photograph it as soon as you pay.
Can I use a fee paid in Saudi Arabia for an interview in another country?
No. A fee paid through the Saudi system is tied to applying in Saudi Arabia. If you switch countries, expect to create a profile in that country's system and pay again.