U.S. Adjusts Fees for Visa Applications

May 23, 2010

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is raising visa fees in order to meet the increasing cost of processing nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applications. As of June 4, 2010, the new total fee for H, L, O, P, Q, and R visas will be $150; for E visas $390, and K visas $350.  The new total fee for all other categories, including B-1/B-2, F, and J visas, will be $140.

U.S. law requires that the State Department recover the cost of processing NIV applications through the collection of visa fees. A recent study determined that the cost of processing an NIV application has increased because of new security-related costs, new information technology systems, and a new mandate from Congress to charge NIV applicants $1 to support programs to combat trafficking in persons. The Department is therefore required to increase the fee.

For further information, please visit the U.S. State Department's website at http://www.travel.state.gov/news/press/press_4603.html.