The United State Department has decided to increase US visa fees for some applications for non-immigrant visas (NIV), including tourist visas.
In a statement issued on March 28, the State Department announced that fees for business or tourism visitor visas (B1/B2) and border crossing cards for Mexican citizens 15 years of age and older (BCC) and student visas and exchange visitors will increase up to 15 percent, from $160 to $185, VisaGuide.World reports.
The same source stated that regarding non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (categories H, L, O, P, Q and R), they will also increase by $15 from $190 to $205.
Meanwhile, the fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor and treaty applicant in a specialty occupation (category E) will increase from $205 to US$315.
“NIV fees are set based on the actual cost of providing NIV services and are determined after conducting a study of the cost of these services. The Department of State uses an activity-based costing methodology to calculate, annually, the cost of providing consular services, including visa services,” the statement of the US Department reads.
According to the State Department, for most non-petition-based NIVs the fees were updated in 2021, while some other NIV fees were last updated in 2014. It also points out that as for other consular fees, they are not affected by this rule, including the removal of the required two-year residence fee for certain exchange visitors.
As the US Department of State explains, all fee payments for visa interviews made on or after October 1 of the previous year are valid for 365 days from the date of issue of the fee payment invoice.
In addition, if applicants wish to waive the interview they must schedule an interview appointment or submit an application within 365 days of payment of the fee. This means that there is no requirement that the interview be conducted during the 365-day period.
Furthermore, fees paid by applicants before October 1, 2022, will continue to be valid until September 30 of this year. As a result, applicants must pre-schedule an interview or submit an interview waiver application before September 30, 2023.
Biden’s foreign policy considers visas for work and tourism very important, and the US Embassy also recognizes the critical role that international travel plays in the US economy.
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