HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases...Publication of Final Rule on Nonimmigrant Visa Fee Increases
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The Department of State is committed to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States for both immigrant and nonimmigrant travelers.
The Department of State published a Final Rule regarding increases to certain nonimmigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees and the Border Crossing Card (BCC) for Mexican citizens age 15 and over. These increases were published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2023 and will be effective on May 30, 2023. The fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs), and other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from $160 to $185. The fee for certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from $190 to $205. The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from $205 to $315.
NIV fees are set based on the actual cost of providing NIV services and are determined after conducting a study of the cost of these services. The Department uses an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology to calculate, annually, the cost of providing consular services, including visa services. The fees for most non-petition based NIVs were last updated in 2012, and certain other NIV fees were last updated in 2014.
Other consular fees are not affected by this rule, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors.
Visas for work and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy, and we recognize the critical role international travel plays in the U.S. economy.
Fee information can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, travel.state.gov, and on the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates.
The information you provided concerns the Department of State's publication of a Final Rule regarding increases in certain nonimmigrant visa application processing fees and Border Crossing Card (BCC) fees for Mexican citizens aged 15 and over. This announcement, made on March 28, 2023, specifies that the fee adjustments will become effective on May 30, 2023.
The fee adjustments outlined in the Final Rule are as follows:
- Visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs) and other non-petition based NIVs like student and exchange visitor visas will increase from $160 to $185.
- Certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from $190 to $205.
- The fee for treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from $205 to $315.
These fee adjustments are determined based on the actual cost of providing Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) services. The Department of State uses an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology to calculate the annual cost of providing consular services, including visa services. Most non-petition based NIV fees were last updated in 2012, while certain other NIV fees were last updated in 2014.
It's important to note that this rule only affects specific visa fees; other consular fees, such as the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors, remain unaffected.
Visas for work and tourism are crucial elements of President Biden's foreign policy, acknowledging the significant role international travel plays in the U.S. economy. For detailed fee information, individuals can refer to the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, travel.state.gov, and the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates.
To delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV): Visas granted to individuals seeking temporary entry into the United States for various purposes, such as tourism, business, medical treatment, temporary work, or study.
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Border Crossing Card (BCC): A document issued to Mexican citizens for travel within a certain distance of the U.S.-Mexico border for specific purposes like shopping, tourism, or visiting family.
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Final Rule: A regulation that has undergone the entire rulemaking process and is officially enacted, detailing changes to existing regulations.
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Activity-Based Costing (ABC) Methodology: A costing method that identifies activities within an organization, assigns costs to those activities, and then determines how much of those costs are associated with specific services or products provided by the organization.
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Consular Services: Services provided by a country's consular offices, such as visa processing, assistance to citizens abroad, and authentication of documents.
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Petition-based Nonimmigrant Visas: Visas that require a petition, typically from a U.S. employer or sponsor, to be filed on behalf of the applicant.
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Treaty Trader, Treaty Investor: Visas granted to individuals engaged in substantial trade or investment between their country and the U.S., based on treaties between the countries.
Understanding these concepts helps individuals navigate the nuances of visa processing fees and the methodologies used in determining such fees for temporary travel to the United States.
