Last reviewed: August 30, 2026
How to Pay the U.S. Visa Fee in the United Kingdom
The DS-160 itself has no submission fee. Applicants in the UK pay the separate nonimmigrant visa application (MRV) fee through the official appointment service before an interview at the London embassy or Belfast consulate can be scheduled.
Many UK citizens travel under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) for tourism or business up to 90 days — the DS-160 and MRV fee apply to purposes and stays outside the VWP: study, work, exchange, journalism, fiancé(e) visas, and travelers who aren't VWP-eligible.
Payment methods in the UK
The official UK appointment service currently offers two ways to pay:
- Credit card: paid online through your applicant profile (3-D Secure).
- Electronic bank transfer: select the option at the payment page, then download and follow the payment instruction sheet exactly. Allow 3 business days for the transfer to complete and activate.
Official reference: the UK visa fee page lists credit card and electronic bank transfer, states transfers take 3 business days to activate, and confirms fees are valid for 365 days, non-refundable, non-transferable, and not movable between countries. Check the live page before paying.
Step-by-step payment process
- Submit the DS-160 and save the confirmation page.
- Create an account on the official UK visa service.
- Add each applicant and continue until the payment page shows the amount for your visa class.
- Pay by card, or generate the bank-transfer instruction sheet and send the exact amount as instructed.
- Wait for activation — card payments register quickly; bank transfers take up to 3 business days.
- Schedule the interview (London or Belfast) from the same account once the payment shows as available.
UK-specific payment rules
- The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, whether or not a visa is issued.
- It is valid for scheduling for 365 days from the date of purchase.
- A fee paid in the UK cannot be transferred to another country's system — if you move, expect to pay again where you apply.
- Pay only through your AIS profile's flow — never through a link sent by email or an agent.
- Each applicant normally needs their own fee, including children.
- F, M, and J students and exchange visitors also owe a separate SEVIS fee on fmjfee.com — the MRV payment does not cover it. See the F-1 student DS-160 guide.
Questions commonly searched in the UK
How much is the U.S. visa fee in pounds?
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 collected at the exchange rate shown in your profile at checkout. Confirm the current amount on the Department of State fee schedule.
Do I even need a visa, or is ESTA enough?
For tourism or business up to 90 days, most UK citizens use ESTA. You need a visa (and this fee) for study, work, exchange programs, journalism, K fiancé(e) cases, stays over 90 days, or if ESTA was denied or you're otherwise VWP-ineligible.
My bank transfer hasn't activated. Should I pay again?
No — allow the full 3 business days. If it still doesn't appear, use the support channels in your AIS profile with your payment proof. A duplicate payment is not refunded.
Can I interview in Belfast instead of London?
Yes — the same account and fee cover scheduling at either post, subject to the visa class and appointment availability.
Can I use a fee paid in the UK for an interview in another country?
No. The official terms are explicit: fees paid to apply in one country cannot be transferred to another.