If you are planning on applying or have already applied for an immigrant or a non-immigrant visa at the United States Embassy in London, UK, or elsewhere in the world, you may want to double-check the fee amount due in your case. As of 12 September 2014, the US Department of State has announced fee changes affecting some visa applicants at US Embassies world-wide and at the National Visa Center (NVC).
Who is affected by the fee changes?
If you made a visa fee payment before 12 September 2014 and the amount due under current regulations is lower, the DOS cannot refund the difference.
If you made a fee payment before 12 September 2014 and the amount due under current regulations is higher, whether or not you have to pay the difference between the old and the new fee depends on when your visa interview is scheduled for:
- If your visa interview is scheduled on or before December 11, 2014, then you do not need to pay the difference;
- If your visa interview is scheduled on or after December 12, 2014, then you DO need to pay the difference. The DOS regulations do not provide for any exceptions to this rule.
What are some of the changes?
- The MRV Fee for most non-immigrant visa classifications (which will be familiar to many US visa applicants, including those seeking tourist visas) remains the same at $160.
- The MRV Fee for Treaty Investor/ Treaty Trader (E-1/E-2)visas has been lowered to $205 (down from $270).
- The fee for a Fiancee of a US citizen (K-1) visa has increased to $265 (up from $240).
- The fee payable by Immediate Relative and Family Preference applicants in immigrant visa cases has increased to $325 (up from $230).
The full list of fee changes is available on the Department of State's website.
Located near St Paul's Cathedral in central London, UK, the American Immigration Law Office LTD regularly advises and represents clients submitting visa applications at the United States Embassy in London. Contact the firm today to discuss your US immigration matter!