THE Department of State has published a final rule regarding increases to certain nonimmigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees.

According to a press release from the US Embassy in Guyana, effective May 30, 2023, the fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2), and other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from US$160 to US$185.

The fee for certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from US$190 to US$205. The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from US$205 to US$315.

“Other consular fees are not affected by this rule, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors,” the embassy said.

Visa fees, according to the release, are calculated based on the results of an annual study of the cost of service. The fees for most non-petition based NIVs were last updated in 2012, and certain other NIV fees were last updated in 2014.

“Visas for work and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy, and we recognise the critical role international travel plays in the US economy,” the embassy said.
Fee information can be found on the US Embassy’s website at: https://gy.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/