“IMMIGRATION LAW CONNECTION”

The U.S. Department of State is changing is current visa fee structure as of April 13, 2012. Currently, for Non-Immigrant Visas, the fees are as follows:

• MRV Fee – $140:00;
• Petition Based Applicants (H, L, O, P, Q, R) – $150:00;
• E-1, E-2 & E-3 visa applicants – $390.00.

Although most categories of nonimmigrant visa processing fees will increase, the fee for E-1, E-2 & E-3 visas, K visas (for fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens) and all immigrant visas will actually decrease.

From April 13, 2012, most nonimmigrant visa applicants will pay an MRV application fee of $160.00 to apply for a visa; petition based applicants $190.00.00 and E-1, E-2 & E-3 visa applicants $270.00.

Nonimmigrant visa applicants who pay the MRV fee before April 13, may use the MRV fee receipt to apply for a visa up to and including July 12, 2012.  Applicants who apply on or after July 13, 2012 will be required to pay a supplemental fee in order for their application to be processed.  Please note that were there is a decress in fees, there will be no refund, regardless of when the application is received.

The increase in nonimmigrant visa fess is attributed to fact that the Department of State  is required to recover, as far as possible, the cost of processing visas through the collection of application fees.  For a number of reasons, the current fees no longer cover the actual cost of processing nonimmigrant visas.  The nonimmigrant visa fee increase will support the addition and expansion of overseas facilities, as well as additional staffing required to meet increased visa demand.

Because of a reallocation of costs associated with immigrant visas, however, all categories of immigrant visa processing fees will decrease from April 13, 2012.

The fees for Immediate Relative and Family Preference applicants will be $230.00; Employment based applicants $405.00; Diversity Visa applicants $330.00, Returning Resident status $275 and for all other immigrant visa applicants, the fee will be $220.00.  Please note that these fee are in addition to the fees charged to file an immigrant visa petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.