General Information
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
For Immediate Release
March 29, 2012
2012/483
Media Note
Visa Processing Fees to Change on April 13, 2012
Effective April 13, 2012, the Department of State will adjust visa processing fees. The fees for most nonimmigrant visa applications and Border Crossing Cards will increase, while all immigrant visa processing fees will decrease.
The Department is required to recover, as far as possible, the cost of processing visas through the collection of application fees. For a number of reasons, the current fees no longer cover the actual cost of processing nonimmigrant visas. The nonimmigrant visa fee increase will support the addition and expansion of overseas facilities, as well as additional staffing required to meet increased visa demand.
Although most categories of nonimmigrant visa processing fees will increase, the fee for E visas (treaty-traders and treaty-investors) and K visas (for fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens) will decrease.
Nonimmigrant Visa Processing Fees
| Type of Visa | Previous Fee | New Fee |
| Tourist, Business, Transit, Cre Member, Student, Exchange Visitor, and Journalist Visas | $ 140 | $ 160 |
| Petition-Based Visas (H, L, O, P, Q, and R) | $ 150 | $ 190 |
| Treaty Investor and Trader Visas (E) | $ 390 | $ 270 |
| Fiancé (e) Visas (K) | $ 350 | $ 240 |
| Border Crossing Cards (age 15 and older) | $ 140 | $ 160 |
| Border Crossing Cards (under age 15) | $ 14 | $ 15 |
Because of a reallocation of costs associated with immigrant visas, all categories of immigrant visa processing fees will decrease.
Immigrant Visa Processing Fees
| Type of Visa | Previous Fee | New Fee |
| Immediate Relative and Family Preference Applications | $ 330 | $ 230 |
| Employment-Based Applications | $ 720 | $ 405 |
| Other Immigrant Visa Applications | $ 305 | $ 220 |
| Diversity Visa Program Fee | $ 440 | $ 330 |
| Determining Returning Resident Status | $ 380 | $ 275 |
Applicants will be charged the fee in effect on the day of payment. For fees that are increasing, receipts for payments made prior to the fee changes will be accepted for 90 days after the fee takes effect, or through July 12, 2012. In categories where fees are declining, no refunds will be available for those who paid prior to the effective date; however, these receipts are valid for the usual one year from the date of issuance.
The proposed fees were published in the Federal Register today, and will take effect in 15 days. To view the interim final rule, visit the U.S. Government Regulations website. Comments will be accepted until 60 days after publication. At that time, the Department will consider the public comments, and the published final rule will include the Department’s response to any comments received.
Fee information may also be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, and on the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates.
General Visa Information
The Consular Section is responsible for issuing non-immigrant visas for travel to the United States. However, it is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and not the Consular Section, which has authority to grant/deny entry, and to decide upon the length of stay permitted. At the port of entry to the U.S., a DHS official must authorize the traveler's entry. At that time, Form I-94 (Record of Arrival-Departure) is stamped with a date for how long the visit is authorized.
To extend a visit beyond the date authorized on Form I-94, the traveler must contact the DHS to request form I-539 (Application to Extend Status). The decision to authorize or deny that extension can only be made by the DHS.