Last week, the U.S. Department of State announced an increase in the application fees for certain non-immigrant visas (NIV).
The fee for visitor visas for both business and tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs) and student and exchange visas will increase from $160 to $185. The fee for non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (categories H, L, O, P, Q, and R) will increase from $190 to $205. The fee for treaty trader and treaty investor visas (category E) will increase from $205 to $315.
The fee increases have been officially announced and will take effect on May 30, 2023.
The application fees for these visas are set based on the actual cost of providing the service. The Department of State justified the fee increase due to rising service costs driven by high demand for U.S. visas.
The fees for most NIVs were last updated in 2012, and some other fees were last updated in 2014.
The increase was more modest than speculated in 2022. The Department of State believes that the new fees will not deter tourists and other visitors from applying to enter the country.
It is important to remember that fee payments for visa interviews conducted from October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date of issuance of the receipt for the fee payment. Applicants must schedule an interview or submit a request for a waiver of the interview within 365 days after the fee payment. There is no requirement for the interview to occur within the 365-day period.
Receipts for fees paid before October 1, 2022, will remain valid until September 30, 2023. These applicants must schedule an interview or submit a request for a waiver of the interview before September 30, 2023. The interview does not need to occur before this date.
Source: US Department of State