Increase in non-immigrant visa quotas

Effective June 4, 2010, non-immigrant visa quotas will be increased. The U.S. Department of State announced that the increase was necessary to cover the increase in expenses related to the processing of nonimmigrant visas. This increase applies to nonimmigrant visas that are stamped in passports and border crossing cards issued to certain applicants from Mexico.

The new non-immigrant visa fees are as follows (per person):

1. Non-immigrant visas not based on a petition. The new quota is $140. Some examples: tourist visas (B2), business visitor visas (B1), and all student and exchange visitor visas (F, M and J).

2. Non-immigrant visas based on a petition. The new fee is $150. This category of visas includes:

- H visa for temporary workers and trainees

- L visa for eligible intracompany transferees

- O visa for people with extraordinary ability

- P visa for athletes, artists and presenters

- Q visa for persons participating in an international cultural exchange program

- R visa for religious workers

3. The fee for the E visa will be $390. This includes traders, investors and treaty professionals.

4. The K visa will cost $350. This visa is for fiancés or spouses of U.S. citizens.

5. The fee for the border crossing card for persons 15 years of age or older will be $140 (valid for 10 years).

6. The border crossing card fee for persons under 15 years of age will be $14. This fee applies to Mexican applicants as long as a parent or guardian has applied or will apply for a border crossing card (valid for 10 years or until the applicant turns 15, whichever comes first).

The U.S. State Department is also considering changing the fees it charges for processing U.S. passports, immigrant visas and other consular services.