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US Visa & ESTA Cost Checker for GCC Travelers

Yes — Saudi passports need a B1/B2 visitor visa for the USA: $185 per person plus an embassy interview. The only GCC exception is Qatar: a Visa Waiver Program member since late 2024, covered by an electronic ESTA at $40 that usually approves within 72 hours and allows stays of up to 90 days. The UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon are all on the B1/B2 path (some outdated sources list the UAE as visa-free — 2026 correction: that is wrong). A possible ≈$250 Visa Integrity Fee (OBBBA, effective 2025–26, collected at visa issuance where implemented, CPI-indexed) can bring a B1/B2 to $435 total where collected — rollout is still inconsistent as of Sept 2026, and ESTA/VWP travelers are exempt from it. The F1 student route applies to every nationality: $535 (SEVIS $350 + MRV $185), or $785 where the integrity fee is collected. Pick your nationality in the calculator below for your family total.

Saudi Arabia — fee$185 (B1/B2 + interview)
Qatar — fee$40 (ESTA, no interview)
Family of 4$740 B1/B2 · $160 ESTA
F1 student — per person$535 (SEVIS 350 + MRV 185)
Visa Integrity Fee$250 where collected at issuance (B1/B2 ≈$435 total; F1 ≈$785) — ESTA/VWP travelers exempt; rollout still inconsistent as of Sept 2026
C1 transitSame visa/ESTA required — the US has no sterile airside transit
Interview wait timesEstimate bands (change monthly) — Riyadh 2–10 wks, Jeddah 3–12, Doha 1–6, Abu Dhabi 2–12; verify on travel.state.gov
Data as of2026-09

US Visa & ESTA Cost Checker for GCC Travelers

Inputs

Corrected 2026 data — Qatar is the only GCC member of the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA); the UAE requires B1/B2.

2

Fees are official and per person — no family or child discounts.

Default scenario: Saudi · 2 travelers · visit — edit inputs
B1/B2 path — interview requiredData as of 2026-09
Total fees for 2 travelers — B1/B2 visitor visa
$370
≈ 1,388 SAR (pegged rate)Approximate FX rates — as of August 2026
$185 per person
Processing & timing

DS-160 then interview — total time = interview slot + issuance; varies by embassy and month

Embassy visa with in-person interview (limited, rare renewal waivers)

Visa Integrity Fee — Sept 2026 update

The OBBBA $250 Visa Integrity Fee (effective 2025–26, collected at visa issuance where implemented, CPI-indexed) can bring a B1/B2 to ≈$435 total where collected. Rollout is still inconsistent as of Sept 2026 — ESTA/VWP travelers are exempt from it.

Interview wait — estimate bands
  • US Embassy Riyadh2–10 weeks (est.)
  • US Consulate Jeddah3–12 weeks (est.)

Interview wait figures are estimates (bands, not guarantees) and change monthly — always confirm on the official travel.state.gov wait-times page before booking any ticket.

Documents checklist
  • Valid passport — 6 months beyond US departure preferred (six-month-club exceptions apply to some countries)
  • Completed DS-160 + confirmation page
  • 2×2-inch (5×5 cm) photo meeting embassy specs
  • Proof of the $185 MRV fee payment
  • Embassy/consulate interview appointment
  • Bank statements showing funds — common practice, not official— common practice, not official
  • Ties to home country (job/family/property) — common practice, not official— common practice, not official

C1 transit: the US has no sterile airside transit — connecting through any US airport requires the same B1/B2 visa or ESTA. A US connection without one risks being denied boarding.

An approved ESTA or issued visa does not guarantee entry — the final decision rests with the CBP officer at the port of entry.

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How the calculator works

Enter your trip details to get travel figures based on current, -specific numbers.

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Pick your passport nationality — the tool instantly routes you to ESTA (Qatar) or B1/B2 (everyone else) with the official fees: $40 or $185 per person.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Set the number of travelers — fees multiply per person with no discounts, and the total shows in USD with the SAR equivalent (pegged at 3.75).

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Toggle the F1 student path when needed (SEVIS $350 + MRV $185 per student) and review the document checklist plus estimated interview-wait bands per embassy.

Use Cases

Plan travel for

Get exact, current figures for travel in instead of vague averages.

Compare destinations

Weigh against other cities before booking flights or hotels.

Budget before you book

Know the expected spend in so surprises don't derail the trip.

Tips

  • 1

    Prices for move with season — re-check near your travel dates.

  • 2

    Use local currency figures for ; card rates add conversion fees.

  • 3

    Book ahead when visiting in peak season.

Common Mistakes

  • Budgeting with peak-season averages.

  • Ignoring visa lead times before booking.

FAQs

Does a Saudi or Qatari citizen need a visa for the USA?

Saudi passports need a B1/B2 visitor visa: $185 MRV fee plus an embassy interview (Riyadh or Jeddah) — a possible ≈$250 Visa Integrity Fee may be added where it is collected (details in the next question). The Qatari passport is the only GCC exception — Qatar has been in the Visa Waiver Program since late 2024, so a $40 online ESTA with no interview is enough, and ESTA travelers are exempt from the integrity fee.

What is the difference between ESTA and a B1/B2 visa?

ESTA is an electronic authorization open only to Visa Waiver nationalities (in the GCC: Qatar alone): $40 (official CBP figure $40.27, up from $21 under OBBBA effective Sept 30, 2025 — "≈$40 all-in"), approval usually within minutes up to 72 hours, stays up to 90 days, valid for 2 years. B1/B2 is a traditional visa requiring a DS-160 form, the $185 MRV fee and an in-person interview, with validity of up to 10 years for some nationalities. 2026 note: the OBBBA $250 Visa Integrity Fee (effective 2025–26, collected at visa issuance where implemented, CPI-indexed) can bring a B1/B2 to ≈$435 total where collected — but rollout is still inconsistent as of Sept 2026, and ESTA/VWP travelers are exempt from it.

What is the total cost for a family of 4?

Fees are per person — no family or child discounts. A Saudi family of 4 on B1/B2 pays 4 × $185 = $740 (about SAR 2,775), plus ≈$250 per person where the Visa Integrity Fee is collected (≈$1,740 all-in). A Qatari family using ESTA pays just 4 × $40 = $160 (about SAR 600) — no integrity fee applies. Use the calculator above to change the headcount or add the F1 student path.

How accurate are the wait times shown?

Honest but estimated: we show bands (e.g. Riyadh 2–10 weeks, Jeddah 3–12 weeks) because real figures shift monthly and by season. We deliberately avoid single guaranteed numbers — check the official wait-times page at travel.state.gov before booking tickets, and note that administrative processing can extend timelines.

My parents are visiting me in the US from Saudi Arabia — which visa do they need?

B1/B2 for each of them: $185 per person plus the DS-160 form and an in-person interview in Riyadh or Jeddah — fees are per traveler with no family discount (2 parents = $370). A possible $250 Visa Integrity Fee (collected at issuance only where implemented — rollout was still inconsistent as of Sept 2026) could add ≈$500 for both. You can pay the fees from the US as the host, but your parents attend the interview themselves. An invitation letter from you is common practice that many applicants bring — it is not an official requirement, and what officers actually weigh is your parents’ own ties and evidence of return.

Can my Qatari cousin use ESTA to visit me?

Yes — Qatar is the only GCC member of the Visa Waiver Program, so your cousin applies online for ESTA at $40 with no interview, usually approved within 72 hours, and can stay up to 90 days per visit on an authorization valid 2 years — and ESTA carries no Visa Integrity Fee. What matters at the border is your cousin’s own return ticket and ties — a host invitation letter is common practice, not a document CBP officially requires. Note ESTA covers tourism and family visits only, never study (that needs F1 for everyone).

Does an approved ESTA or issued visa guarantee entry to the US?

No — a visa or ESTA only lets you travel to a US port of entry. The final decision (whether you enter and for how long) rests with the CBP officer on arrival. Keep return evidence handy (return ticket, hotel booking, purpose documents).

I am a student — what does the F1 US visa cost?

The F1 path is the same for every nationality (including Qataris, since ESTA does not cover study): a $350 SEVIS fee plus the $185 MRV fee = $535 per student, on top of the DS-160, the interview, and your school-issued Form I-20 — budget ≈$785 if the ≈$250 Visa Integrity Fee is collected at issuance (rollout still inconsistent as of Sept 2026). Toggle the student path in the calculator to include it automatically.

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