A Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee is paid by each visa applicant to process their electronic application. MRV fees vary depending on the type of visa, must be paid prior to scheduling a visa interview, and is not refunded in the event the visa application is denied. MRV fees were increased on June 17, 2023 from $160 to $185 for B1/B2 and other non-petition visas, from $190 to $205 for temporary worker petition based (H, L, O, P, Q, and R) visas, and from $205 to $315 for E visas.
A Reciprocity fee is due at the time the visa is ready for issuance and proof of payment must be presented prior to the visa being issued. Reciprocity fees vary by nationality and visa class and must be paid for every visa applicant. There is no reciprocity fee for most non-immigrant visas, but they can be reach several thousand dollars. For example, a reciprocity fee for an Australian citizen to be issued an E2 visa is $3,464. If the applicant has a spouse and two children that would require a payment of $13,856 even if they are not Australian citizens and would not be required to pay a reciprocity fee based on their citizenship. So, if the spouse in a citizen of France—French citizens are not required to pay a reciprocity fee for an E2 visa—they would be required to pay the Australian reciprocity fee since they are applying as a derivative of their Australian spouse. This fee would be required every time an E2 visa is renewed, as well.
