Before you apply for a U.S. visa, the reciprocity table decides three things that shape your trip: whether you owe an extra fee, how many times you can enter the country, and how long your visa stays usable.
These terms are not the same for everyone. A citizen of one country might receive a B-1/B-2 visitor visa good for 10 years of multiple entries, while a citizen of another gets a single entry valid for three months, for the exact same visa class. The difference comes down to your nationality and what your government charges U.S. citizens.
This guide explains what it is, how to read each column, how the issuance fee differs from the application fee, and where to find your country's entry.
What is a visa reciprocity table
The reciprocity table is a country-by-country reference, published by the U.S. Department of State, that lists the fee, number of entries, and validity period for each nonimmigrant visa class based on your nationality. You will also see it called the reciprocity schedule. The official version lives on the department's U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country page.
Every US visa reciprocity table entry answers the same practical question: for someone with your passport, applying for this visa class, what are the terms?
Because the numbers depend on your country of nationality, they can vary sharply from one applicant to the next. Two people applying for the same visa class can receive different validity periods, entry limits, and fees simply because they hold different passports. That is why checking the reciprocity schedule State Department maintains before your interview is worth the few minutes it takes.
Why reciprocity exists
You can think of reciprocity as a mirror. The United States sets the fee and conditions on your visa to match what your government charges U.S. citizens for a comparable service. If your country grants Americans a single-entry visa valid for three months, or charges them for comparable travel documents, U.S. authorities tend to apply similar limits and fees to travelers from that country.
This is not informal practice; it is written into law. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, codified at 8 U.S.C. 1351, the Secretary of State sets nonimmigrant visa fees to correspond to what foreign governments impose on U.S. nationals. The statute carves out narrow exceptions, including free visas for certain United Nations transit cases and reductions for some charitable service.
The same mirroring principle applies to treaty countries whose nationals qualify for E-1 or E-2 visas, and to every other country. It is also why nationals of some countries, such as Ghana, Cameroon, and Angola, should check their own schedule closely, because reciprocity fees and validity terms differ by nationality and by visa class.
How to read the reciprocity table
Once you open your country's page and select the Visa Classifications tab, you are reading a grid with four columns. Learning how to read the reciprocity table takes only a minute, and it saves you from surprises at the consulate window. Here is what each column means.
| Column | What it tells you | Example values |
|---|---|---|
| Visa classification | The visa class you are applying for | B-1/B-2, F-1, H-1B |
| Fee | The issuance fee charged in addition to the visa application fee | Often $0; sometimes hundreds of dollars |
| Number of entries | How many times you may seek entry using that visa | "M" for multiple, or a set number such as "One" |
| Validity period | How long the visa may be used to travel to a U.S. port of entry | Stated in months, such as 60 months |
Two of these columns cause the most confusion. The number of entries reciprocity table listings show is not the same as your length of stay: an "M" means multiple entries during the validity window, while a single-entry visa is used up after one trip even if time remains.
The visa validity reciprocity rules govern how long you can travel to a U.S. port of entry, not how long you may remain once admitted. That length of stay, and your immigration status once inside the country, is set separately by Customs and Border Protection.
The same logic applies whether you are checking a reciprocity table B1/B2 row for a visitor visa or an F-1 row for a student visa. A B-1/B-2 applicant from one country may enter multiple times over 120 months, while an F-1 applicant from another sees a shorter window and a per-entry limit.
Always read the country-specific footnotes below the table, which flag exceptions that change how a row applies to you.
The reciprocity fee versus the MRV fee
Two separate fees apply to most nonimmigrant visa applications, and confusing them is common. You pay one no matter what, and the other only in specific cases.
The first is the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee, which you pay before your interview simply for the right to apply. It is non-refundable whether your visa is approved or refused.
As of 2026, the MRV fee is $185 for most non-petition categories such as B, F, J, and M visas, $205 for petition-based categories such as H, L, O, P, Q, and R visas, $315 for E treaty trader and investor visas, and $265 for K visas. You can confirm current amounts on the State Department's fees for visa services page.
The second is the reciprocity fee, also called the visa issuance fee, and this is the one the reciprocity schedule tells you about. The reciprocity fee visa applicants owe is collected only after a consular officer approves the application, and only if the table lists an amount greater than zero for your country and visa class. For many nationalities it is zero.
When an issuance fee does apply, the embassy or consulate collects it at the window or directs you to pay online. Knowing your figure in advance helps you budget for both the issuance fee and the MRV fee together.
The civil documents side of the country page
The same page does double duty. Beyond visa terms, it is the official source for reciprocity and civil documents by country, which matters most if you are pursuing an immigrant visa or a green card through consular processing.
After USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) approves the underlying petition, immigrant visa applicants complete these steps abroad, where a U.S. embassy or consulate reviews the records. When you are gathering paperwork, the reciprocity table civil documents guidance tells you what your country issues and how to obtain it.
For each country, the page explains the availability and format of the records a consular officer expects, including:
- Birth certificates: The page notes whether your country issues birth certificates, what a valid one looks like, and which issuing authority produces it.
- Marriage certificates: If you are sponsoring or accompanying a spouse, it confirms how marriage certificates are issued and what an acceptable copy contains.
- Police certificates: It lists whether police certificates are available, from which authority, and the period they must cover.
When a required record genuinely does not exist or cannot be obtained, the page describes acceptable secondary evidence, such as sworn affidavits or church or school records, so you are not stuck. Matching your documents to the issuing authority named on the page is the fastest way to avoid a request for more evidence later.
What the reciprocity table means for your work visa or green card
If you are applying for a work visa or an employment-based green card through a consulate, the table sets your visa's validity period and how many entries you receive, which matters if you travel for work. Lighthouse prepares O-1, H-1B, and L-1 cases, along with employment-based green cards, with attorney review included in every case, so you know what your approved terms mean before you travel.
Because petition-based visa classes carry a higher MRV application fee and your terms depend on nationality, knowing your numbers before the interview helps you plan travel and budget. Lighthouse prepares applications in under three weeks, so your case is ready the moment an appointment opens.
If you are heading toward a consular interview for work, start your free visa evaluation today.
Finding the reciprocity table by country
You reach your figures by looking up the reciprocity table by country on the Bureau of Consular Affairs site, which organizes everything as an alphabetical list. The full visa reciprocity schedule, officially the U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country database, is free to search.
Use the nationality shown on the passport you will submit, not the country where you currently live. A citizen of Brazil residing in Germany still uses Brazil's schedule, because the terms mirror how Brazil treats U.S. travelers.
A few navigation details save time:
- Country acronyms: Visa issuing posts and countries appear with short country acronyms in some tools, so confirm you have selected the right entry before reading the fees.
- Reciprocity: What's new: The site keeps a Reciprocity: What's New section that logs recent changes, which is worth scanning if your last check was months ago.
- Temporary reciprocity schedule: In certain situations the department posts a temporary reciprocity schedule for a country, so read any note explaining that a schedule is provisional.
Because the tables update without a fixed calendar, the safest habit is to check close to your interview date. A figure that was accurate six months ago may have changed if the foreign government adjusted its own policies.
Practical reminders before you apply
You have more control over surprises than most applicants realize, and a short checklist keeps you ahead of them. Keep these reminders in mind before you apply:
- Look up by nationality, not residence: Your passport country controls the lookup, so use it even if you live and apply somewhere else.
- Separate the two fees: Budget for the MRV application fee up front and the issuance fee only if your table lists one above zero.
- Read the footnotes: Country-specific footnotes often carry the exception that applies to your exact situation.
- Check timing: Because validity and fees can change, confirm your numbers shortly before your interview rather than relying on an old screenshot.
- Match documents to the source: For immigrant cases, follow the civil-document guidance for your country so your records meet the issuing-authority standard on the first try.
Reading the table with confidence
The reciprocity table looks bureaucratic, but it answers three questions you will care about the day your visa is approved: what it costs, how often you can use it, and how long it lasts. Everything on that page is set by your nationality, so the one thing worth doing is checking it yourself rather than assuming another applicant's terms are yours.
How Lighthouse helps you prepare for a work visa or green card interview
If the reciprocity table has you focused less on the fee itself and more on when you can actually travel, you have read it right. The petition, the consular interview, and the terms printed on your visa all have to line up before you book a single trip, and a stumble at any stage can push your start date back by months.
Lighthouse prepares O-1, H-1B, and L-1 cases, along with employment-based green cards, with a case team that maps your full timeline before you file. Every case includes attorney review, and Lighthouse prepares applications in under three weeks, so your case is ready the moment an appointment opens.
If you want to reach your consular interview knowing what your approved visa will cost and how long it lasts, start your free visa evaluation today.
Frequently asked questions on the reciprocity table
What is a visa reciprocity table?
A visa reciprocity table is the U.S. Department of State's country-by-country listing of the reciprocity fee, entry count, and validity period for each nonimmigrant visa class. The terms depend on your nationality, because the United States mirrors what your government charges U.S. citizens for comparable visas. You can look up your country on the official State Department page.
How do I read the reciprocity table B1/B2 entry?
Open your country's page, select the Visa Classifications tab, and find the B1/B2 row. It shows the issuance fee (often $0), the entry count ("M" for multiple, or a set number), and the validity period in months. Read the country-specific footnotes underneath, since they can change how the row applies to you.
What does the reciprocity table F1 visa row show?
The reciprocity table F1 visa row lists the same three data points as any other class: the issuance fee, the entry limit, and how long the visa stays valid for travel. Student applicants often see a shorter window than visitors from the same country, so check your specific figures rather than assuming they match a B-1/B-2 visa.
Does everyone pay a reciprocity fee?
No. The issuance fee applies only when your country's table lists an amount above zero for your visa class, and for many nationalities it is zero. Everyone still pays the separate MRV application fee, which is $185 for most non-petition visas and $205 for petition-based ones as of 2026.