U.S. Government Increases Visa Application Fees
The U.S. government has recently announced an increase in non-migrant visa application fees which will become effective from May 30, 2023.
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria made this announcement in a statement on March 30, 2023, and said the increments were published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2023.
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Department of State’s Commitment to Facilitate Legitimate Travel
The U.S. government stated that this change aligns with the Department of State’s commitment to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States for both immigrant and nonimmigrant travellers.
The mission emphasized that the U.S. government is dedicated to providing consular services, including visa services, based on the actual cost of providing these services.
The Department uses an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology to calculate the cost of providing consular services annually, including visa services.
Visa Application Fee Changes
The fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs), and other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from 160 dollars to 185 dollars.
The fee for certain petition-based non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from 190 dollars to 205 dollars.
Additionally, the fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from 205 dollars to 315 dollars.
Recent Changes in Non-Petition Based NIV Fees
The fees for most non-petition based NIVs were last updated in 2012, and certain other NIV fees were last updated in 2014.
The U.S. government uses an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology to calculate the cost of providing consular services annually, including visa services.
The U.S. government stated that the fees for these services are determined after conducting a study of the actual cost of providing them.
Visas for Work and Tourism are Essential to President Biden’s Foreign Policy
The U.S. government also emphasized that visas for work and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy, recognizing the critical role international travel plays in the U.S. economy.
Other consular fees, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors, are not affected by this rule.
Where to Find Fee Information
The mission advised applicants to visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, travel.state.gov, and the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates to find information on visa fees.
These sources will provide the latest information on visa application fees for all categories of visas.
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