Parents Visitor Visa for Graduation: Fees by Country
For a parents visitor visa for graduation, each parent applies separately: a B-2 for the USA ($185 application fee), a Standard Visitor visa for the UK (£135), a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) for Canada (CAD 100 plus CAD 85 biometrics), or a Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream for Australia. From Nepal, US B-2 applicants may also be asked to post a visa bond of $10,000 to $20,000. Start about three to four months before the ceremony.
Last checked: 20 October 2026. NPR amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026.
Parents visitor visa for graduation: fees and documents by country
| Country | Visa | Official fee per parent | About (NPR) | Key documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | B-2 visitor | $185 application fee; a visa bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 may be required for Nepali passport holders | Rs 28,164 (bond: Rs 15.22 to 30.45 lakh) | Passport valid 6 months beyond stay, DS-160 confirmation, photo, fee receipt, evidence of purpose, ties and funds |
| UK | Standard Visitor (up to 6 months) | £135 | Rs 27,404 | Passport, trip dates, accommodation, estimated costs, income, who is paying, travel history, translations |
| Canada | Visitor visa (TRV) | CAD 100 plus CAD 85 biometrics (family maximum CAD 170 for biometrics) | Rs 19,897 per parent | Passport, purpose of trip, funds, ties, invitation letter |
| Australia | Visitor 600, Tourist stream | Set by Home Affairs; check the Visa Pricing Estimator | – | Passport, evidence of funds (for example bank statements, pay slips), support from your child if they are paying |
We have not printed an Australian figure because Home Affairs shows the Visitor 600 charge only through its interactive pricing tool. Enter “Visitor (subclass 600)”, Tourist stream, outside Australia, in the Visa Pricing Estimator to see today’s amount.
USA: B-2 visa for a graduation visit
The US visitor visa page lists “visit with friends or relatives” as a B-2 purpose, so attending your child’s graduation fits. Each parent fills in a DS-160, uploads a photo, pays the $185 non-refundable fee and usually attends an interview at the US Embassy in Kathmandu.
Two points Nepali families often miss:
- An invitation letter is not required. travel.state.gov says a letter of invitation or affidavit of support is not needed and is not a factor in the decision. What matters is the parent’s own purpose, ties to Nepal and ability to pay. A letter from the university confirming the graduation date can still help explain the trip.
- Visa bonds now apply to Nepal. The State Department’s countries subject to visa bonds page lists Nepal from 21 January 2026. A consular officer may require a bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, set at the interview. Pay only through Pay.gov, and only after the officer tells you to. Bond holders must enter and leave through the commercial air ports of entry the page describes.
Our B1/B2 visitor visa application guide walks through the DS-160 and interview. If your parents already hold valid B-2 visas, they do not need new ones just for the graduation.
UK: Standard Visitor visa
GOV.UK says a Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for up to six months and covers visiting family. Parents apply online, then give fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre. GOV.UK says the earliest you can apply is three months before travel, and a decision usually comes within three weeks of the appointment.
The application asks for trip dates, where they will stay, the estimated cost of the trip, their income, and the name and address of anyone paying for it. If you, the student, are paying for flights or hosting them, say so and provide your own evidence. Documents not in English need certified translations.
Canada: visitor visa (TRV)
IRCC’s fee list shows CAD 100 per person for a visitor visa and CAD 85 per person for biometrics. The biometrics family maximum is CAD 170 when two or more people apply together at the same time and place, so two parents applying together pay CAD 370 in total (about Rs 39,794).
IRCC’s letter of invitation guidance asks for the visitor’s details, your relationship, the purpose and length of the visit, where they will stay, how they will pay and when they will leave. It also asks for host details, including Canadian citizenship or permanent residence. As a student you will not have that status, so include a copy of your study permit and a letter from your school confirming your convocation date instead. IRCC states that an invitation letter does not guarantee a visa.
Australia: Visitor visa subclass 600 (Tourist stream)
Home Affairs describes the Tourist stream, applied for outside Australia, as covering visits to family and friends, with stays of up to 12 months possible. Its visitor visa form notes that evidence of funds such as bank statements and pay slips helps speed up processing. If someone else is supporting the trip, Home Affairs says that person will need to provide evidence that they can.
Ask for a stay that matches the trip, for example two or three weeks around the ceremony, not the maximum.
Step-by-step plan for the family
- Confirm the ceremony date with your university and request an official letter with your name, degree and the date.
- Check passports. For the USA, each passport must be valid at least six months beyond the stay. Renew early if needed; see our Nepal passport guide.
- Collect the parents’ documents: bank statements, income proof (salary, business, pension, rent, agriculture), property papers if useful, and proof of ties such as a job, business or other family in Nepal.
- Add your own documents: enrolment or completion letter, a copy of your visa or permit, and your address abroad.
- Apply 3 to 4 months ahead. The UK allows applications from three months before travel.
- Book refundable or flexible flights until the visas arrive.
- Arrange travel insurance for the trip, especially for older parents.
Nepal-specific tips
- Be consistent with your student file. Officers can see that your parents sponsored your studies. Income and property they showed for your student visa should not look wildly different now. Our sponsor documents guide covers the usual papers.
- Both parents do not have to travel. If one parent stays to run the business or care for family, that is a normal choice. Just be honest on the forms.
- Translate Nepali documents. Land ownership certificates (lalpurja) and income letters in Nepali need certified English translations.
- Ignore “visa guarantee” offers. No agent can guarantee a visitor visa, and the US visa bond is paid only through Pay.gov after an officer asks.
Common mistakes
- Applying too late, especially for the US, where interview wait times change.
- Relying only on the student’s invitation letter. For the US it is not a factor at all.
- Asking for a long stay “to help the child settle”. Say exactly what the trip is.
- Paying a visa bond or “visa fee” through a link sent by an agent.
- Forgetting that each parent pays their own visa fee.
What to do next
- Get your university’s graduation letter this week.
- Check the official fee page for your country on the day you pay. Fees change.
- If you are in the US and on OPT, read our F-1 status rules before travelling with your parents.
Frequently asked questions
Can my parents get a US visa to attend my graduation?
Yes, they can apply for a B-2 visitor visa, which covers visiting relatives. Each parent pays the $185 fee and usually attends an interview. Nepali applicants may also be asked to post a visa bond of $10,000 to $20,000.
Do parents need an invitation letter for a US visitor visa?
No. travel.state.gov says an invitation letter is not needed and is not a factor in the decision. A university letter confirming the graduation date can still help explain the trip.
How much is the UK visitor visa fee for parents from Nepal?
£135 per person for a Standard Visitor visa of up to six months, about Rs 27,404 at the NRB selling rate on 17 Oct 2026.
How much does a Canada visitor visa cost for two parents?
CAD 100 each for the visa plus biometrics. Biometrics are CAD 85 per person, with a family maximum of CAD 170, so two parents applying together pay CAD 370.
How early should parents apply for a graduation visitor visa?
About three to four months before the ceremony. The UK lets you apply up to three months before travel and usually decides within three weeks.
Related guides
- Return to Nepal After Study Abroad: Equivalence and Licences
- GRE or GMAT Requirement for US Master's: Fees, Test-Optional
- US University Selection: How Nepali Students Shortlist Schools
- SOP Writing Guide for Nepali Students: Format, Tips, AI Rules
- How to Explain a Study Gap for a Student Visa (Nepal Guide)
Sources
- U.S. Department of State: visitor visa (B-1/B-2)
- U.S. Department of State: fees for visa services
- U.S. Department of State: countries subject to visa bonds
- GOV.UK: Standard Visitor visa
- GOV.UK: apply for a Standard Visitor visa
- IRCC: fee list
- IRCC: letter of invitation for visitors
- Home Affairs: Visitor visa subclass 600, Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)
- Home Affairs: Visa Pricing Estimator
Last checked 20 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Fees change; confirm on the official page before paying.
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