Visas Affected By These Fee Increases
If you’re planning on getting a visa to enter the US after May 30, 2023, you may need to increase your budget. Per the US Department of State’s recent announcement, fee increases are set to rise for certain travel, visitor, and work visas.
How will this affect you? This short summary of fee increases will let you know if you’re on the list of price changes:
● B-1/B-2 visitor visas will increase by 15%, moving from $160 to $185. This is an important change to note, as with the recent influx of tech layoffs, many H-1B workers in the US are moving to a B-1/B-2 visa while waiting for a new job sponsor.
● Border Crossing Cards (BCCs) for any Mexican citizens aged 15 or older will also have the same price increase.
● Student and exchange visitors will see a fee increase of 15%, also from $160 to $185.
● Nonimmigrant temporary work visas, including those in H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories, will notice a slight fee increase with a change from $190 to $205.
● Treaty traders, treaty investors, and treaty applicants in the specialty occupation E categories will have a substantial increase in fees, with a jump from $205 to $315.
USCIS fees have remained the same since 2014, but the cost of running processing centers and payroll have risen. These small fee increases are intended to help offset the expenses and decrease the backlog of visas currently holding up the processing of new applications.
What’s Next?
Obtaining an H-1B visa as a skilled worker or employer is challenging. There is a lot of competition, and the expenses involved aren’t something to take lightly. However, working with immigration legal experts like those of us at Visa2US can increase your chances of success.
Our experts are ready to help you navigate the obstacles involved in the H-1B visa process. Contact us today to see how we can make this journey easier for you!
