The US State Department has stated that beginning on May 30, 2023, the US will increase the application processing fees for a number of nonimmigrant visas, including those for students and tourists.

The fee will rise from $160 to $185 for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s) as well as other non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas (NIV), like student and exchange visitor visas.

The application price for petition-based nonimmigrant worker visas under the H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories will rise from $190 to $205.

The H, L, O, P, Q, and R visas are for people who want to work in the US temporarily or for a set period of time. Depending on the sort of occupation, various visa classes have several subcategories.

The current application fee for those applying for speciality jobs (E category), treaty traders, investors, or investment visas is $315, up from the prior price of $205.

All other consular fees, however, will stay the same. No further fees will be assessed to those who have already paid a valid and non-expiring visa application fee but have not yet appeared for their visa interview or are waiting for case processing.

The price of visas is determined by an evaluation of service costs conducted annually, according to a statement from the US State Department. The majority of non-petition NIV costs last underwent an upgrade in 2012, and some more NIV costs did so in 2014.

The State Department noted that visas for employment and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy and underlined the significant contribution that international travel makes to the US economy.