New fees are now in effect for immigrant and non-immigrant visas and other consular services.
Fees for several immigration procedures have increased, while for others they have decreased. The U.S. Department of State announced that the increase is necessary to cover expenses related to the processing of consular services.
The change in fees was effective as of September 12, 2014.
Applicants for family-based immigrant visas, individuals who must file letters of support (Affidavits of Support) with the National Visa Center (NVC), and U.S. citizens who wish to renounce their citizenship will be most affected by the increases.
The family-based immigrant visa increased from $230 to $325, an increase of 41 percent. The Department of State estimates that 575,360 individuals will apply annually for a family-based immigrant visa. The annual increase of all these applications will be $54,659,200.
The fee for filing letters of support with the NVC increased from $88 to $120, an increase of 36 percent. The Department of State estimates that 371,898 individuals will file a letter of support annually. The annual increase for all such applications will be $10,172,736.
The quota for renouncing U.S. citizenship increased from $450 to $2,350, an increase of 422 percent. The State Department estimates that 2,378 individuals will renounce their U.S. citizenship. The annual increase for all these applications will be $4,518,200.
The new fees for visas and other consular services are as follows (per person):
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To see the complete list of fees for the different immigration procedures, click here.
All visa applicants must pay the fees in effect on the day they pay, with the exception of immigrant visa application processing fees paid to the NVC, which will be effective as of the date of billing.
Immigration processing fees that have decreased are not refundable. If you have paid a visa fee before September 12, 2014 and the fee decreased, the Department of State will not give you a refund.
In the case of nonimmigrant visas that have been increased, fees that have been paid will be accepted 90 days after the new fees take effect, as follows:
* If you paid your visa fee before September 12, 2014, and your interview is before December 12, 2014, you do not have to pay the difference between the new and old fee amounts.
* If you paid your visa fee before September 12, 2014, and your visa interview is after December 12, 2014, you will have to pay the difference between the old and new fee amounts - no exceptions.
