The United States (US) has increased the visa cost for tourists and students and the new prices will come into effect from May 30, 2023.
In a statement by the US Department of State, “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 (AED587.57 to AED679.38 approximately).
“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 (AED697.74 to AED752.82 approximately). The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from $205 to $315 (AED752.82 to AED1156.77),” the statement added.
Categories affected by the US visa hike:
- B1: Business; Domestic employee or nanny – must be accompanying a foreign
national employer; Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money only) - B2: Tourism, vacation, pleasure, medical visitor
- H: Work visas
- L: Intra-company transferee
- O: Foreign national with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education,
Business or Athletics - P: Performing athlete, artist, entertainer
- Q: International cultural exchange visitor
- R: Religious worker
- E: Treaty trader/treaty investor
Find the full list here.
The statement also said that this rule change only applies to certain consular fees and will not affect other fees.
For example, exchange visitors who are eligible for a waiver of the two-year residency requirement fee will still be able to receive that waiver.
According to the official US embassy website, any payment made, starting from October 1, 2022, will be valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for the payment.
Within this period, applicants must either schedule an interview appointment or apply for an interview waiver. However, the interview itself doesn’t need to take place within this 365-day period.
In addition, fee receipts prior to October 1, 2022 will be valid until September 30, 2023. Applicants under this category must schedule an interview or submit an interview waiver application before September 30, 2023. The statement added that the interview need not occur before that date.
Receipts for fees paid prior to October 1, 2022 will continue to be valid until September 30, 2023. These applicants must schedule an interview or submit an interview waiver application before September 30, 2023. The interview need not occur before that date.
“Visas for work and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy, and the U.S. Embassy recognises the critical role international travel plays in the U.S. economy,” the statement concluded.
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