PANO – Effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a US non-immigrant visa will increase from US $100 to US $131.

The Department of State is required by law to recover the cost of processing non-immigrant visas through the collection of visa application fees. Due to the new security-related costs, new information technology systems, and inflation, the current US $100 visa application fee no longer covers the actual cost of processing non-immigrant visas.

This increase allows the Department of State to recover the costs of security and other enhancements to non-immigrant visa application process.

Applications of individuals who have paid the previous US $100 application fee before January 1 will be processed only if they are scheduled and appear for a visa interview before January 31.

Meanwhile, applicants who have paid the prior US $100 application fee and appear for visa interviews after January 31, 2008 must pay the additional US $31 before they can be interviewed.

By Vu Hung