Prepare Your Budget: Nonimmigrant Visa Fees to Go Up in June 2023
If you’re planning to apply for a nonimmigrant visa (NIV), there’s an important update you should know about. Starting from June 17, 2023, the fees for NIV applications will be increased, this change will affect various visa categories, so it’s essential to stay informed to avoid any surprises during the application process. The fee for visitor visas used for business or tourism purposes, as well as other non-petition-based NIVs like student and exchange visitor visas, will be raised from $160 to $185.
If you fall under the temporary worker category, your petition-based NIV application fee will increase from $190 to $205. So those applying for a nonimmigrant E-category visa as a treaty trader, treaty investor, or in a specialty occupation, will see their fee rise from $205 to $315. It’s worth noting that any NIV fees paid before June 17, 2023, will remain valid until the expiration date stated on your fee receipt. This means that if you submit your payment prior to the fee increase, you won’t be required to pay the higher amount. The adjustment in NIV fees is based on the actual cost of providing NIV services.
To determine the appropriate fees, the Department has conducted a study on the cost of these services by utilizing an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology to calculate the yearly expenses associated with offering consular services, including visa services. So It is crucial to recognize that the fees for most non-petition-based NIVs were last updated in 2012, while other visa fees were last edited in 2014. It’s important to be aware that this rule change only affects the NIV fees and does not modify any other fees associated with the visa application process. For instance, the fee to apply for a waiver of the two-year residency requirement for certain exchange visitors will remain at $120. If you’re planning to apply for a nonimmigrant visa after June 17, 2023, make sure to account for the updated fees in your budget. Stay informed and plan accordingly to avoid any inconvenience or delays during the application process.
It’s worth noting that any NIV fees were paid before June 17th 202. Will remain valid until the expiration date stated on your fee receipt. This means that if you submit your payment prior to the fee increase, you won’t be required to pay the higher amount. The adjustment in NIV fees is based on the actual cost of providing NIV services. To determine the appropriate fees, The department has conducted a study on the cost of these services by utilizing an Activity-base costing (ABC) methodology to calculate the yearly expenses associated with offering consular services, including visa services.
