On May 30, 2023, the US Department of State will raise the visa fee for US tourist/business (B1/B2), student, and exchange visitor visas. This announcement was made by the Department regarding certain non-immigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees. US visa applicants should take note of this increase in fees.
Fee Hike Details
The fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2), as well as other non-petition-based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas.
| Category | Previous Fees | New Fees |
| Tourists / Business (B1 / B2) Student Visa Exchange Visitor Visa | 160 USD | 185 USD |
Certain petition-based non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will see a fee increase from $190 to $205.
Treaty traders, treaty investors, and treaty applicants in a speciality occupation (E category) will pay a fee of $315 instead of $205.
Other consular fees are not affected by this rule, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors.
Validity of Fee Payments
Fee payments for visa interviews made on or after October 1 of the previous year are valid for 365 days from the date the fee payment invoice is issued. Fees paid by applicants before October 1, 2022, will be valid until September 30, 2019.
As a result, applicants must schedule an interview or apply for an interview waiver before September 30, 2023.
Last Updated Fees
The fees for most non-petition-based NIVs were last updated in 2012, and certain other NIV fees were last updated in 2014.
US Visa Categories Affected by the Hike
The US visa categories affected by the hike are:
- B1: Business; Domestic employee or nanny – must be accompanying a foreign national employer
- B2: Tourism, vacation, pleasure 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