Visa for the United States from Turkey: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes: a B1/B2 visa is required because Turkey is not in the Visa Waiver Program and is therefore not eligible for ESTA. The B1 covers business, the B2 tourism and visits, and they are most often issued together. This visa does not permit work or study.

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

• Government fee185 USD

  Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.

• Application centre feeVariable, set by the operator

  Only when the post uses an external centre. The amount is set locally and we do not publish a figure we cannot verify.

• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top

  Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

• ExtrasVariable

  Courier return, SMS tracking, compliant photo, insurance, sworn translation or legalisation, depending on what the post requires.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

Present a passport generally valid for at least six months beyond your stay, the DS-160 confirmation, a compliant photo, and the MRV fee receipt. Bring evidence of strong ties to Turkey (employment, family, property) and of financial means. Do not rely on any unofficial figure: the MRV fee is listed on travel.state.gov.

Complete the DS-160 form online, upload your photo, then pay the application (MRV) fee. Next, schedule an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate in Istanbul, depending on availability. Bring the DS-160 confirmation page on the day of your interview.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Turkey, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Turkey but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Interview wait times vary widely by consular post and season; check travel.state.gov for current estimated waits. Book your appointment early and prepare clear answers about the purpose and length of your trip. For a renewal, an interview-waiver arrangement can sometimes apply.

Do not apply for ESTA: it does not cover Turkish nationals, who must obtain a visa. Check every entry on the DS-160, as an error can delay processing. Do not let your passport approach its expiry, and do not undo your proof of ties to Turkey before the interview.