Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Total cost
$1,005
Cost per applicant
$965
Government fees (all applicants)
$520
Third-party costs (medical, translation, etc.)
$485
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One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter government filing fee (per applicant) ($).
- 2Enter biometrics fee (per applicant) ($).
- 3Enter medical exam (per applicant) ($).
- 4Enter certified translations (per applicant) ($).
- 5Enter passport photos + misc (per applicant) ($).
- 6Enter number of applicants.
- 7Enter courier / return shipping (total) ($).
- 8Read your total cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 9Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Nonimmigrant and immigrant visa costs are rarely just the headline filing fee. USCIS or consular application fees, the $85 biometrics fee, medical exam costs (typically $200-$500 depending on the panel physician and country), certified translations of civil documents, courier fees for document return, and photo fees all stack up per applicant. This calculator totals every line item for one applicant and multiplies by household size, since spouses and children each need their own application and biometrics in most categories. It also separates one-time government fees from third-party costs like the medical exam and translations, because government fees are fixed and non-negotiable while third-party costs vary by provider and country. Use it to budget before you file, not after you've already paid the first fee and discovered the rest.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Government filing fee (per applicant): 435 $
- Biometrics fee (per applicant): 85 $
- Medical exam (per applicant): 300 $
- Certified translations (per applicant): 120 $
- Passport photos + misc (per applicant): 25 $
- Number of applicants: 1
- Courier / return shipping (total): 40 $
Results
- Total cost: $1,005
- Cost per applicant: $965
- Government fees (all applicants): $520
- Third-party costs (medical, translation, etc.): $485
What each field means
Inputs
- Government filing fee (per applicant) ($)
- The government filing fee (per applicant) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 435 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Biometrics fee (per applicant) ($)
- The biometrics fee (per applicant) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 85 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Medical exam (per applicant) ($)
- The medical exam (per applicant) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 300 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Certified translations (per applicant) ($)
- The certified translations (per applicant) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 120 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Passport photos + misc (per applicant) ($)
- The passport photos + misc (per applicant) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 25 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Number of applicants
- The number of applicants used in the calculation. Starts at 1 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–10.
- Courier / return shipping (total) ($)
- The courier / return shipping (total) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 40 $ so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Total cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Cost per applicant
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Government fees (all applicants)
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Third-party costs (medical, translation, etc.)
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Do fees change often?
Yes. USCIS adjusted most filing fees significantly in April 2024, and consular fees can shift with exchange rates for visas processed abroad. Always check the current fee schedule on uscis.gov or travel.state.gov before you file, since paying an outdated amount gets your package rejected.
Can I get a fee waiver?
USCIS Form I-912 fee waivers exist for some humanitarian categories and household income under 150% of the federal poverty line, but they don't cover most family and employment-based petitions. Check the specific form's eligibility before assuming you qualify.
Why is the medical exam so variable?
Only panel physicians designated by USCIS or the embassy can perform the exam, and they set their own prices since there's no fee cap. Rural areas with fewer panel physicians often charge more due to limited competition.
Should I use a lawyer for a straightforward filing?
For a single, clean case like a first-time spousal petition with no prior issues, many people self-file successfully. Add an attorney if there's a prior overstay, criminal record, denial history, or complex employment category, where a mistake costs far more than the $1,500-$3,000 flat fee.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
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Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Visa Application Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/visa-application-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/visa-application-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visa Application Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Visa Application Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/visa-application-cost) (2026).