Laos passport United States
You must apply and be approved before you travel. The government charges $185. Airlines will refuse to board you without it, and applying takes time — start well before you book anything you cannot change.
- Status
- Visa required
- Stay permitted
- The visa's validity is set by a reciprocity schedule that differs by nationality. Length of stay is decided by the officer at the port of entry.
- Government fee
- $185
- Typical decision
- Not published
Apply on the official United States government site
This is the government's own portal. We are not paid to send you there, and there is no service in between.
Checked 19 September 2026 — read the fees and rules on travel.state.gov
What United States asks for
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay
- Form DS-160 confirmation page
- Appointment confirmation
- One photograph meeting the published specification
- Evidence of funds and of ties to your home country
- Any documents supporting the purpose of the trip
Worth knowing
- The DS-160 form is free to fill in. Only the $185 MRV processing fee is payable, and it is paid to the designated bank, never to an agent's account.
- No agent can obtain an earlier interview date. Appointment slots are released by the consulate.
- A separate issuance fee may apply after approval, depending on your nationality's reciprocity schedule.
How long it takes
The wait is almost entirely the interview appointment, not the decision. Appointment waits are published per embassy and can run to many months.