The country has raised the prices for tourist and student visas, as well as several other categories, with effect from May 30. Your trips to the United States are about to get a little more expensive.
The US State Department has recently announced a USD 25 (INR 2,046) increase in non-immigrant visa application processing fees. This means that from 30 May tourist applicants will now have to pay USD 185 (INR 15,141) instead of the previous fee of USD 160 (INR 13,096). The increased costs will apply to people seeking business or tourism visitor visas (B1/B2), Border Crossing Cards (BCCs) for Mexicans, and other non-petition-based non-immigrant visas (NIVs), such as student and exchange visitor visas.
The US Department of State stated that they will not charge any further fees to applicants who pay for their visa application on or after October 1, 2022.
US Visa Categories Affected By Fees Increased
The new rule will affect these Visa categories from 30th May onwards.: –
- B1- Business visitors
- B2- Tourists, vacationers, and pleasure visitors
- H- Work visas
- L- Intra company transferees
- O- Foreign nationals with excellent knowledge in art, science, education, athletics, or business
- P- Performing athlete, artist, and entertainer
- Q- International cultural exchange visitors
- R- Religious works
Fees Increment
Aside from the B1/B2, BCCs, student, and exchange visas, the US Department of State said that various additional petition-based NIV categories may face cost increases. USD 15 (INR 1,229) will be hiked for the temporary worker categories such as H, L, O, P, Q, and R. In addition, the applicants who formerly had paid USD 190 (INR 15,561) will have to pay USD 205 (INR 16,790). In addition, the cost of an E-category visa, which is intended for treaty merchants, investors, and candidates in specialized vocations, would rise by USD 110 (INR 9,011). They will now pay USD 315 (INR 25,805) for the visa rather than USD 205 (INR 16,790).
US Department Annouces
According to the US Department of State’s website. We assess the cost of these services and base visa costs on the actual cost of delivering non-immigrant visa services. The Department annually calculates the cost of delivering consular services, including visa services. Using an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) approach, according to the statement.
In 2012, the majority of non-petition-based NIVs had adjusted their costs , and in 2014. The Department updated the prices for select other non-immigrant tourist visas.
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