Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The US Department of State will increase the processing fees for most US non-immigrant visas from April 13 this year.
“Effective April 13, 2012, the processing fee for most US non-immigrant visas will increase as per the following fee schedule,” a US embassy press statement said on Wednesday.
Fee schedule:
Tourist, Business, Transit, Crew Member, Student, Exchange Visitor, and Journalist visas (B, C, D, F, J, and I) $140 (Previous) $160 (New) Petition-Based visas (H, L, O, P, Q, and R) $150 (Previous) $190(New)
Treaty Investor and Trader visas (E) $390 (Previous) $270 (New) Fiancé (e) visas (K) $350 (Previous) $240 (New)
Current visa fees no longer cover the actual cost of processing non-immigrant visa applications, the statement said.
The increased fees will allow the US State Department to improve the visa application process and support additional staffing to meet increased visa demand.
For fees that are increasing, receipts for fees paid under the previous fee schedule will be valid for 90 days from the effective date of the new fees. For example, visa applicants who paid the prior $140 or $150 application processing fee before April 13, 2012, will be processed without additional cost if they are scheduled and appear for a visa interview before July 12, 2012.
Any payments made by visa applicants after April 13, 2012, regardless of the interview date must be for the full revised USD fee. MRV receipts are valid for one year from the date of payment.
There is no change in the fee collection procedures. Non-immigrant visa applicants must deposit the MRV application fee and obtain a receipt from the Standard Chartered Bank office located at Gulshan Avenue (opposite the Pakistani Embassy) in Dhaka.
The Non-Immigrant Visa appointment scheduling service by Saimon Overseas Limited will also remain unchanged.
For complete information on applying for a non-immigrant visa to the United States, interested persons can visit the U.S. Embassy’s web site at http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/non-immigrant_visas.html
BBN/SSR/AD-04Apr12-11:50 pm (BST)
