The Department of State released a proposed rule on December 29, 2021, to raise the fees for several nonimmigrant visas. The last time the State Department increased fees on most nonimmigrant fees was in 2012.
The new fees will impact almost all nonimmigrant visa (NIV) categories:
• 53%: Tourist (B-1/B-2) and Student Visas (F, M, J) will rise from $160 to $245.
• 63: Employment Visas including the temporary workers and trainees (H); intracompany transferees (L); aliens of extraordinary ability (O); athletes, artists, and entertainers (P); international cultural exchange participants (Q); and religious workers (R) categories will rise from $190 to $310.
• 137%: Treaty traders and investor (E) Visas will increase from $205 to $485
• 325%: J-1 Waivers of the two-year home residency requirement will see the largest increase up to $510.
• 53: Border Crossing Card (BCC) for Mexican citizens age 15 and over will rise from $160 to $245.
The U.S. Government policy is to recover the full costs of providing the service, resource, or good for a special benefit someone receives. A recent audit determined that the proposed fees for providing these special consular services better align with the costs of providing the services.
The State Department is accepting comments on the proposed fee increases until February 28, 2022, and expects the proposed rule will go into effect sometime before September 2022.
Immigration law can be confusing, and it changes frequently. It is important to have legal guidance from a knowledgeable attorney. The immigration attorneys at Godoy Law Office in Chicago and Lombard can help you with your immigration case. If you need help with an immigration issue, please contact our office or call us at 630-912-0322.
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