The Department of State (DOS) has announced that effective January 1, 2008; the application fee for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa will increase from $100 to $131. According to DOS, this increase will allow it to recover costs associated with security and other enhancements to the nonimmigrant visa application process. This increase applies to nonimmigrant visas issued on machine-readable foils in passports and to border crossing cards issued to some applicants in Mexico.

According to DOS, security-related technologies required for processing visas has driven the cost of production higher than the $100 fee charged to applicants. DOS states it has been absorbing the cost of production since at least 2004 when it conducted a cost of service survey and determined the cost of producing a visa was higher than the fee being charged.

Applicants who pay the $100 before January 1, 2008 will have their visas processed as long as they appear for the visa interview before January 31, 2008. Applicants who paid the $100 fee, but are scheduled for interviews after January 31, 2008 will be required to pay the $31 difference before their scheduled interview.

Please bear in mind that the "machine readable" fee is only one possible fee that a visa applicant would be required to pay. Based upon reciprocity agreements between the United States and other countries, there are also visa fees that may be charged to the visa applicant. Individuals seeking visas should review the reciprocity schedule for their country of citizenship and the type of visa classification being sought in order to determine the additional fees charged, if any. Furthermore, various consulates may also include a small processing fee for using on-line systems or mail delivery. Nonimmigrant visa applicants would be prudent to review the specific Consular Website where the visa application will be made in advance to determine fees and acceptable payment methods.

Read the story on the DOS website: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/dec/97384.htm

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