US Increases Certain Non-Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fees Starting May 30, 2023

Certain Non-Immigrant Visa application processing fees will be subject to increased costs, the United States has announced.

On March 28, 2023, the increase was made public in the Federal Register, and it will take effect on May 30, 2023.

“The fee for B-1/B-2 visitor visas, Border Crossing Cards for Mexican citizens aged 15 and older, and student and exchange visitor visas will increase from $160 to $185,” the US government stated in the document.

Additionally, the H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories of petition-based non-immigrant visas for temporary workers’ fees will rise from $190 to $205.

“From $205 to $315, the fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will be added.”

It stated that a cost analysis of such services is used to determine the NIV fees, which are based on actual costs of providing NIV services.

The department uses an activity-based costing methodology to calculate the annual cost of providing consular services, including visa services, according to the document. The most recent update to the fees for non-petition-based NIVs was in 2012, and the most recent update to certain other NIV fees was in 2014.

“Other consular charges are not impacted by this standard, including the waiver of the two-year residency required expense for specific trade guests.

“We recognize the critical role that international travel plays in the U.S. economy, and we recognize that visas for work and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy.”