US Embassy Announces Nonimmigrant Visa Fee Increase

On June 4, 2010, the U.S. Department of State increased Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fees to ensure sufficient resources to meet the increasing cost of processing nonimmigrant visas.


Effective June 4, 2010, the fees are as follows:


$140 – B1/B2, C1/D, F, J, and all other NIV categories not listed below (Visitor/Transit/Student)


$150 - H, L, O, P, Q, and R (Temporary Worker)


$350 – K (Fiancée)


$390 - E (Investor/Trader)


If an applicant paid a visa fee of $131 but has an appointment after June 4:

All applicants with an interview date after June 4 must pay the full MRV fee, even if they paid at the former rate of $131. The Embassy requests that visa applicants who paid the MRV fee of $131 for an appointment scheduled after June 4 pay for the difference in fees at the same bank branch where they made the initial $131 payment. For instance, if an applicant made a visa interview appointment for a tourist visa for Friday,June 4, and paid the former MRV fee of $131, the applicant will need to pay the difference of $9 before arriving at the Embassy on the appointment date. Applicants for other visa categories will need to pay the appropriate incremental fee difference. Applicants will need to present both blue MRV fee receipts when arriving at the Embassy (in this example, receipts for $131 and $9). Applicants will not be allowed to enter the Embassy for their interview unless the full MRV fee has been paid.


Message updated: June 4, 2010