The USA Department of State has announced a 15% increase in application fees for student and visitor visas, including travel visas.
It stated that the cost of Border Crossing Cards for Mexican nationals 15 years of age and older, B-1/B-2 visitor visas, and student and exchange visitor visas would rise from $160 to $185.
For temporary workers, the cost of some nonimmigrant visas (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will also increase from $190 to $205.
The fee for treaty investors, traders, and specialty occupation (E category) applicants will increase from $205 to $315 in the interim.
These price hikes go into effect from May 30th, 2023 after being published in the Federal Register on March 28th, 2023.
“NIV fees are established after a cost study of these services, based on the actual cost of providing NIV services.
“To determine the annual cost of providing consular services, including visa services, the Department employs an activity-based costing methodology.
The last time certain other NIV fees were updated was in 2014, while the last time the fees for the majority of non-petition-based NIVs were updated was in 2012.
The waiver of the two-year residency requirement fee for some exchange visitors, as well as other consular fees, are unaffected by this regulation.
According to a statement released by the US Department on Wednesday, “Visas for work and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy, and we recognize the critical role international travel plays in the U.S. economy.”
