US Visitor Visa (B1/B2) from Nepal: DS-160, Interview, Fees and 2026 Bond Rules

There is no online-only US tourist visa for Nepalis and no visa-on-arrival; almost every first-time applicant must attend an in-person interview at the US Embassy in Kathmandu (Maharajgunj). The B1/B2 is a single nonimmigrant category: 'B1' covers short business trips (meetings, conferences, negotiations) and 'B2' covers tourism, medical treatment, and visiting family or friends. Most travellers are issued a combined B1/B2 visa.

The process itself has not changed in 2026, but two money-and-eligibility rules have. First, the DS-160 form, the MRV fee, and the Kathmandu interview remain the core steps. Second, Nepal was added to the US 'visa bond pilot' effective 21 January 2026, which means some approved applicants must post a large refundable bond before the visa prints. Treat every figure here as 'current as of 2026, verify at the embassy', because fees and the bond pilot are actively changing.

Start the DS-160 at the official Consular Electronic Application Center (ceac.state.gov/genniv). Choose the location 'Nepal, Kathmandu', answer every question truthfully, and make sure names, dates and passport details match your passport exactly. Upload a compliant photo (recent, white background, 2x2 inch / 51x51 mm). When you submit, save and print the confirmation page that shows the barcode — you cannot interview without it.

Next, pay the MRV application fee (USD 185 for B1/B2, as of 2026) and keep the receipt; the fee is non-refundable whether or not the visa is approved and is generally valid for a limited period (about one year) in which you must schedule the interview. Payment and scheduling are handled through the US visa appointment service for Nepal at ustraveldocs.com, where you create a profile, enter your DS-160 barcode and receipt number, and pick an available interview slot.

Wait times for interview appointments in Kathmandu vary widely by season and can stretch to weeks or months, so apply early. Some returning applicants may qualify for an interview waiver (drop-box) renewal; check the current criteria on the embassy and ustraveldocs sites, because the US has tightened interview-waiver rules and the criteria change.

The consular officer's decision rests mainly on the interview and your credibility, not on a thick file of papers — but supporting documents help you tell a consistent story. Bring a passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay, any old passports, the DS-160 confirmation, the MRV receipt and the appointment letter.

The heart of a B1/B2 application is proving 'strong ties' — evidence that you have compelling reasons to return to Nepal. Officers weigh your job, business, property, family and finances together. There is no fixed bank-balance requirement; sudden large deposits can even raise suspicion. Documents should be genuine, recent and consistent with what you say in the interview.

This is the most important 2026 change for Nepali travellers. The US State Department launched a 12-month 'visa bond pilot' on 20 August 2025 for nationals of selected countries. In a second-wave expansion announced on 7 January 2026, Nepal was added, and the requirement took effect for Nepali applicants on 21 January 2026.

Under the pilot, an applicant who is otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa may be required to post a refundable cash bond of USD 5,000, USD 10,000 or USD 15,000 before the visa is issued. Reporting on the rule indicates USD 10,000 is the standard amount consular officers are expected to set, with discretion to go higher or lower. The exact amount is decided by the officer at your interview, and the visa cannot be printed until the bond is paid.

The bond is refundable: it is generally cancelled and returned if you leave the US on or before your authorised stay, do not travel to the US before the visa expires, or are refused entry at the border. It is forfeited if you overstay, work without authorisation, or otherwise break your visa conditions. Bond-restricted visas also carry extra limits (see the validity section). The pilot was scheduled to run to around 5 August 2026, so whether it still applies, and the amounts, must be verified at np.usembassy.gov before you apply.

As of 2026 the B1/B2 MRV application fee is USD 185, paid up front and non-refundable. Some earlier reports expected a rise to about USD 205; the practical change for 2026 is instead a new, separate charge on top of the MRV fee.

The 'visa integrity fee' of USD 250 was enacted in the United States in July 2025 (in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act). It is designed to be charged when a visa is issued, on top of the MRV fee, which would bring the total for a newly issued B1/B2 to roughly USD 435. However, as of mid-2026 the State Department had not begun collecting it, pending implementation guidance; collection is expected to start before the end of the US fiscal year (30 September 2026). The statute describes it as potentially reimbursable if the traveller complies with visa conditions, but no refund mechanism is operating yet, so budget for it as an added cost.

The MRV fee and the bond are different things: the MRV fee is a non-refundable processing charge everyone pays; the bond is a large refundable deposit only some applicants must post under the 2026 pilot. Always confirm the current fee schedule on travel.state.gov and np.usembassy.gov before paying.

The most common refusal is under Section 214(b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act. The law presumes every visitor-visa applicant intends to immigrate; you must overcome that presumption by convincing the officer that you have a residence and strong ties in Nepal you do not intend to abandon, and that your visit is genuinely temporary. A 214(b) refusal is not a permanent ban — you may reapply, but only a real change in your circumstances (a stronger job, clearer purpose, better evidence) is likely to change the outcome.

Refusals often come down to weak or unclear ties, an inconsistent or unconvincing purpose, vague answers, over-coaching (sounding rehearsed), or a mismatch between what you say and what your DS-160 or documents show. A separate and far more serious outcome is a refusal for misrepresentation or fraud under Section 212(a)(6)(C), which can bar you permanently — which is why honesty in both the DS-160 and the interview matters.

The interview at the US Embassy Kathmandu is short — often only a few minutes — and conducted in English or Nepali. Officers form an impression quickly, so first answers matter. Arrive early, follow the security rules (mobile phones and most electronics are not allowed inside), and be ready to explain, clearly and consistently, who you are, why you are travelling, how long you will stay, and how you will fund the trip.

Answer only what is asked, keep answers honest and specific, and have documents organised in case the officer asks for them. If you are found eligible under the 2026 bond pilot, the officer will tell you the bond amount and how to pay it before the visa is issued; passports are usually kept for printing and returned by courier through the ustraveldocs process.

Two things are different: how long the visa is valid, and how long you may actually stay. Historically, under US-Nepal reciprocity a standard B1/B2 for Nepali nationals can be issued for up to 5 years with multiple entries, matching the 5-year multiple-entry visa Nepal grants US citizens. The visa's validity is only the window in which you may travel to a US port of entry; it does not set your permitted stay. At the border, US Customs and Border Protection decides how long you may remain — commonly up to six months per visit for tourism. The exact reciprocity terms can change, so check the official Nepal reciprocity schedule on travel.state.gov.

A visa issued under the 2026 bond pilot is more restrictive: reporting indicates it is limited to a single entry, a validity of up to about three months, and a maximum stay of around 30 days, and the traveller must enter and depart only through designated commercial air ports of entry (a list that included Boston, New York-JFK, Washington-Dulles, Newark, Atlanta, Chicago-O'Hare, Los Angeles, and the Toronto and Montreal preclearance points as of early 2026). Overstaying even by a day can forfeit the bond and trigger future ineligibility, so confirm your admitted-until date on your I-94 after arrival.