How much does a United States work visa cost?

Government fees are about $315 for the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, $215–$400 for the H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, and $50 for the TN Visa (USMCA Professional) (USD equivalents; fees can differ by nationality). Translations, medicals, and courier costs come on top.

How long does a United States visa take to process?

Typical processing is 4–16 weeks for the F-1 Student Visa, 12–32 weeks for the H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, 1–3 weeks for the L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa, and 1 week for the TN Visa (USMCA Professional), plus the time needed to gather documents.

Can I move to United States without a job offer?

Yes. The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa and F-1 Student Visa do not require a job offer from an employer in United States.

Which United States visas lead to permanent residency?

The H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa and L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa offer a path to permanent residency after the qualifying period.

🇺🇸 United States visas: requirements, costs, and processing times

Last verified: October 1, 2026

We track 5 United States visa routes: E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, F-1 Student Visa, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa, and TN Visa (USMCA Professional). Each is verified against the official government source for Canadians and Indians.

Compare United States visa costs and processing times

Visa	Gov. fee	Processing	Min. income	Job offer
E-2 Treaty Investor Visawork	$315	varies	—	Not required
F-1 Student Visastudy	$350–$535	4–16 weeks	—	Not required
H-1B Specialty Occupation Visawork	$215–$400	12–32 weeks	—	Required
L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visawork	—	1–3 weeks	—	Required
TN Visa (USMCA Professional)work	$50	1 week	—	Required

Amounts are approximate US dollar equivalents. A range means the figure differs by nationality.

United States visa types

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

work

For Canadians who will invest in and run a US business. Canada is a treaty country under the USMCA, so a Canadian citizen who has invested, or is actively investing, a substantial amount in a real, operating US business, and who owns at least half of it or otherwise controls it, can qualify. So can certain executive, supervisory or essential employees of a Canadian-owned company. There is no fixed minimum investment: the amount must be substantial in proportion to the cost of the business, and the business cannot be marginal. Unlike almost every other category, E-2 does require a visa even for Canadian citizens. First-time applicants email their full application to the US Consulate General in Toronto, complete forms DS-160 and DS-156E, pay the US$315 application fee and attend an interview. Canadians are issued E-2 visas valid for up to 60 months with no issuance fee, and each admission is for up to two years, renewable without limit. A spouse may work in the United States, but E-2 requires an intent to leave when the status ends and is not itself a path to a green card.

F-1 Student Visa

study

For full-time study at a SEVP-certified school. Requires a Form I-20 from the school, the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee, the $185 DS-160 application fee, and proof of funds covering the amount stated on your I-20 (typically first-year tuition plus living costs). You may enter the US up to 30 days before your program starts. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can accompany you as F-2 dependants, each on their own Form I-20; F-2 dependants are not allowed to work.

H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa

work

Employer-sponsored visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree or higher. Subject to an annual March lottery ($215 registration); the employer files the petition and pays its fees, and your offered salary must meet the prevailing wage for the role and location. Indian nationals face multi-year green-card backlogs. The $100,000 payment from the Sept 2025 proclamation is not currently collected: a federal court vacated the guidance implementing it in June 2026, but the case is ongoing and DHS says it still plans to collect the payment if that order is lifted.

L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa

work

For employees moving to a US office of the company they already work for. You must have worked for the related company outside the United States for one continuous year within the last three, and be coming as an executive or manager (L-1A) or in a specialized-knowledge role (L-1B). There is no H-1B-style registration or lottery and no degree requirement. Canadian citizens have a shortcut: the employer's Form I-129 petition can be presented to US Customs and Border Protection together with your application for admission, at a land-border port of entry or a preclearance station in Canada, and no visa is required. Filing with USCIS in advance remains an option. The employer pays the filing fees: US$1,385 for the petition (US$695 for small employers and nonprofits), a US$500 fraud prevention fee, and a US$600 asylum program fee (US$300 for small employers, nothing for nonprofits). L-1A status lasts up to seven years and L-1B up to five. Spouses in L-2 status may work, and L-1 lets you pursue a green card at the same time.

TN Visa (USMCA Professional)

work

The route most Canadian professionals should check first. Under the USMCA (formerly NAFTA), a Canadian citizen with a prearranged job in one of about 60 listed professions — engineers, accountants, computer systems analysts, scientists, registered nurses, management consultants and more — can apply for TN status directly with a US Customs and Border Protection officer at a port of entry or at a preclearance station in a Canadian airport. Canadians need no visa, no USCIS petition and no lottery registration, and the decision is made when you apply for admission. You bring proof of Canadian citizenship, an employer letter describing the role, and proof of your qualifications, and pay a US$50 fee, plus a US$30 I-94 fee if you cross at a land border. Status is granted for up to three years and can be renewed with no overall limit, but it requires temporary intent and does not itself lead to a green card. A spouse and children get TD status, which allows study but not work. TN is for Canadian citizens only: permanent residents of Canada do not qualify.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a United States work visa cost?: Government fees are about $315 for the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, $215–$400 for the H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, and $50 for the TN Visa (USMCA Professional) (USD equivalents; fees can differ by nationality). Translations, medicals, and courier costs come on top.
How long does a United States visa take to process?: Typical processing is 4–16 weeks for the F-1 Student Visa, 12–32 weeks for the H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, 1–3 weeks for the L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa, and 1 week for the TN Visa (USMCA Professional), plus the time needed to gather documents.
Can I move to United States without a job offer?: Yes. The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa and F-1 Student Visa do not require a job offer from an employer in United States.
Which United States visas lead to permanent residency?: The H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa and L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa offer a path to permanent residency after the qualifying period.

Always confirm requirements with the official government source linked on each visa page. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Browse visas for other countries.