U.S hikes visa fees for Nigerians, others
United States’ Department of State has approved an increase in fees charged for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs).
According to the U.S Mission in Nigeria which disclosed this, Thursday, the fee hike also affects other non-petition based non-immigrant visas (NIVs) such as student and exchange visitor visas.
However, the mission stated that the hike does not affect other consular fees, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors.
The Mission explained that the increases takes effect from June 17, 2023, even as it assured that it remains ‘committed to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States for both immigrant and nonimmigrant travelers.’
The U.S Department of State had earlier fixed the increase to take effect from may 30, but postponed the hike to begin from June 17, this year.
“On June 17, the fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs), and other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from $160 to $185.
“The fee for certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from $190 to $205. The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from $205 to $315.
“NIV fees are set based on the actual cost of providing NIV services and are determined after conducting a study of the cost of these services.
“The Department uses an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology to calculate, annually, the cost of providing consular services, including visa services. The fees for most non-petition based NIVs were last updated in 2012, and certain other NIV fees were last updated in 2014.
“Other consular fees are not affected by this rule, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors.
“Visas for work and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy, and we recognize the critical role international travel plays in the U.S. economy,” the U.S Department statement read.
