According to the US Department of State, certain non-immigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees will be raised from $160 to $185.
The price for tourists and students seeking visas in the United States has been raised. The increased prices will go into effect on May 30. The US Department of State announced that certain non-immigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees will be raised from $160 to $185.
Visitors’ visas for Business or Tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs), as well as other non-petition-based NIVs such as student visas and exchange visitor visas, will be subject to visa fees.
According to current exchange rates, people seeking a US visa under the specified categories will have to pay approximately Rs 15,000 rather than the expected Rs 13,000.
“The fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs), as well as other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from $160 to $185,” the US Department of State stated in a statement.
The price of certain petition-based non-immigrant visas in the United States has likewise increased as of May 30.
According to the announcement, the fee for certain petition-based non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) would rise from $190 to $205.
According to the most recent exchange rates, those applying under the aforementioned categories will now have to pay Rs 16,700 instead of Rs 15,550.
The following visa categories will be affected by the new rule:
- B1- Business visitors
- B2- Tourists, vacationers, and pleasure visitors
- H- Work visas
- L- Intra company transferees
- O- Foreign nationals having excellent knowledge and abilities in the fields of art, science, education, athletics, or business
- P- Performing athlete, artist, and entertainer
- Q- International cultural exchange visitors
- R-Religious Works
The fees for the majority of non-petition-based NIVs were last revised in 2012, with some other NIV fees updated in 2014.
The State Department also stated that this rule does not affect other consular costs, such as the waiver of the two-year residency requirement fee for select exchange visitors.