US visa from Bali: filing in Jakarta
A US visa can be obtained without flying home: interviews run in Jakarta and Surabaya, and residents with a KITAS get priority when booking. The fee is USD 185 today, but a further USD 250 is expected before 30 September 2026 — taking the total to 435.
Updated: 27 August 2026 · Verified by the Malina Visa team
The short answer
A US visa is filed not by citizenship but wherever you can attend the interview. Indonesia accepts applications, and you do not have to live here — though residency helps.
- ✓Two cities — the embassy in Jakarta and the consulate in Surabaya
- ✓Residents get priority in slot allocation, but booking without a KITAS is realistic too
- ✓Personal appearance is required: the interview is in person, with no remote option
- ✓The interview is in English; an interpreter is allowed, but their entry is agreed in advance
Fees: 185 dollars now, 435 soon
The standard fee for a B1/B2 tourist or business visa is USD 185. A second part is about to take effect.
Legislation was signed introducing a Visa Integrity Fee of USD 250 on top of the base fee.
The fee is not being collected yet. Collection is expected before the end of the fiscal year, that is by 30 September 2026.
The total cost of a B1/B2 visa rises from 185 to USD 435.
- ✓The new fee is paid when the visa is issued, not on entry
- ✓Applicants who are refused do not pay it
- ✓The amount is indexed to inflation — USD 250 is a floor, not a fixed figure
How the process runs
Completed online. The data must match your passport letter for letter — discrepancies surface at the interview, the worst possible place for a surprise.
USD 185. Only then does the appointment calendar open.
Slots in Jakarta and Surabaya. Indonesian residents get priority, so a KITAS usually means better dates.
Arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your time. Bring a colour 5×5 cm photo, the interview appointment letter, the DS-160 confirmation and the payment receipt.
Announced at the interview. If approved, your passport stays at the consulate for the visa foil.
What strengthens a resident's application
The interview always circles one question: will you come back. Residency in Indonesia works in your favour — it shows your life is built somewhere other than the US.
- ✓A valid KITAS or KITAP — proof of legal status and ties to your country of residence
- ✓Work or business — a contract, a company, PT PMA documents
- ✓Housing — a lease, and better still an SKTT registration
- ✓Family with you — a spouse and children on family KITAS count in your favour
- ✓Travel history — visas from other countries and a clean record of respecting their terms
- !A KITAS issued a week before filing answers few questions
- !An empty passport makes the conversation harder but does not make refusal inevitable
Where else you can file from Bali
Residency in Indonesia opens applications elsewhere too — the procedures and the effort differ.
- ✓Schengen via Bulgaria — the one working route for Russian citizens, filed in Jakarta
- ✓Australia visa — entirely online, no consulate visit, AUD 200
- ✓Japan visa — the visa centre is in Denpasar, no Jakarta trip needed
- ✓China, Korea and Singapore — where entry is free, where K-ETA applies and where a visa is not
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a KITAS to apply for a US visa in Indonesia?
Formally no: being in the country lawfully is enough. But residents get priority for interview slots, and a valid KITAS strengthens the application by showing ties to where you live.
What does a B1/B2 visa cost?
USD 185 today. An additional Visa Integrity Fee of USD 250 was signed into law on 4 July 2025 but is not yet collected; it is expected by 30 September 2026, taking the total to USD 435.
Where does the interview take place?
At the US embassy in Jakarta or the consulate in Surabaya. Booking opens only after the consular fee is paid, so you cannot preview available dates.
What language is the interview in?
English. You may bring an interpreter, but their entry to the embassy is arranged in advance — turning up with one unannounced will not work.
Is the fee refunded if I am refused?
No. The USD 185 consular fee is non-refundable whatever the outcome. The new USD 250 fee works the other way: it is charged only when a visa is issued, so a refusal means you do not pay it.
We will prepare your documents and US visa application
Tell us your purpose of travel and your status in Indonesia — we will assess and assemble the file.
About KITAS and KITAP