Last reviewed: August 29, 2026

How to Pay the U.S. Visa Fee in South Korea

The DS-160 itself has no submission fee. Applicants in South Korea pay the separate Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee through the official U.S. visa appointment service before an interview can be scheduled.

Payment methods in South Korea

The official South Korea payment options page currently lists three methods:

Electronic Funds Transfer (internet banking): pay in KRW from a domestic Korean bank account to the unique beneficiary account number on your deposit slip. Enter the account number exactly — any deviation delays scheduling.
Cash at any Nonghyup Bank branch: print the deposit slip from your profile first and pay before the slip's expiration date (banks refuse expired slips). Keep the receipt — it cannot be replaced.
Visa credit/debit card in USD: billed in U.S. dollars, Visa card only. Your bank may add foreign transaction and conversion fees, and the billing address must match your card exactly.

Official reference: the South Korea bank and payment options page lists EFT, Nonghyup cash, and USD Visa card, with immediate activation for card payments and about two hours for weekday EFT. 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 South Korea visa service and select Start Application.
On the Payment Options page, verify the number of applicants, visa type, and KRW amount (set at the consular exchange rate) before submitting.
Pay with one method and save the payment reference number — it cannot be replaced, and you cannot schedule without it.
Wait for activation (see the table below).
Return to your profile and schedule the interview once the receipt number is active.

Interview activation times at a glance

| Payment method | When you can schedule | | --- | --- | | USD Visa card online | Usually immediate | | EFT, weekdays 8 a.m.–10 p.m. | Within about 2 hours | | EFT on weekends/holidays | From 9 a.m. the next business day | | Nonghyup cash, 9 a.m.–3:59 p.m. weekdays | After 4 p.m. the next business day |

South Korea-specific payment rules

The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, whether or not a visa is issued.
If a payment appears to fail — including a card payment that doesn't activate immediately — do not pay again. Email support-southkorea@usvisascheduling.com with your reference; duplicate payments are not refunded.
The receipt can be used to schedule an appointment for one year from the payment date.
EFT is payable only in KRW from domestic accounts, in the exact amount printed on the deposit slip.
Reschedules are limited — plan carefully so you don't need a second fee.
F, M, and J students and exchange visitors also owe a separate SEVIS fee paid on fmjfee.com — the MRV payment does not cover it.

Questions commonly searched in South Korea

How much is the U.S. visa fee in Korean won?

The fee is set in U.S. dollars — $185 for B visitor and F/M/J student visas, higher for petition-based work visas — and the accepted KRW amount is printed on your deposit slip at the consular exchange rate. Confirm the current amount on the Department of State fee schedule.

Do most Koreans even need a visa?

South Korea is a Visa Waiver Program country: for tourism or business up to 90 days, most citizens travel on ESTA instead of a visa. You need the DS-160 and MRV fee for stays or purposes outside the VWP — study, work, exchange, journalism, and similar categories.

My deposit slip expired before I paid. What now?

Generate a new deposit slip from your profile and pay with that one. Banks will not accept an expired slip.

I paid by card but can't schedule yet. Should I pay again?

No. Card activation is usually immediate, but if it isn't, wait — and contact support with your reference if it stays inactive. A second payment will not be refunded.

Can I use a fee paid in Korea for an interview in another country?

No. A fee paid through the South Korea system is tied to applying in South Korea. If you switch countries, expect to create a profile in that country's system and pay again.