✈️ The US visa is the most complex one an Iraqi traveller faces, and there is no fully online route: an in person interview is required. The main path is the DS-160 form, then booking an interview, then paying the $185 MRV fee at Bank of Baghdad, then attending the interview at the Embassy in Baghdad or the Consulate in Erbil.
2026 restrictions, read this before you apply
Presidential Proclamation 10998, effective 1 January 2026, applies to Iraqi nationals. You may submit an application and attend an interview, but issuance can be refused at the consular officer's discretion. Separately, immigrant visas for Iraqis are paused as of 21 January 2026, so family and marriage based green card cases are on hold. Refusal rates for Iraqi applicants are currently elevated, so set your expectations before you spend the fee.
💡 Pay the fee after you book the interview, not before. The fee is non refundable, and the scheduling system only asks for your DS-160 barcode, not a payment receipt. Lock in your appointment date first, then pay at Bank of Baghdad.
Can I do it all online? No. An in person interview at the Embassy in Baghdad or the Consulate in Erbil is required.
What is the fee? $185 currently for a B1/B2. The $250 integrity fee is not being collected yet.
Do I pay before or after booking? After. The system only needs the DS-160 barcode, and the fee is not refundable.
Where do I pay? In cash at any Bank of Baghdad branch. Keep the signed white original receipt.
Could I be refused because of the 2026 restrictions? Yes. Proclamation 10998 covers Iraqi nationals and issuance is at the consular officer's discretion.
Refund if refused? No, the MRV fee is non refundable under any circumstances.
Want us to handle it? The Rahal team completes your application and paperwork end to end. You just pack.
📌 Last updated: May 2026. Fees and rules can change, so always check the official source before you apply.
Cover photo: Diliff, CC BY 2.5
No. You complete the DS-160 online, but an in person interview at the Embassy in Baghdad or the Consulate in Erbil is required.
After you book the interview, not before. The scheduling system only needs the DS-160 barcode, and the fee is not refundable if you cannot find a date that suits you.
Proclamation 10998, effective 1 January 2026, covers Iraqi nationals. You can apply and attend the interview, but issuance may be refused at the consular officer's discretion. Immigrant visas have also been paused since 21 January 2026.
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