US increases visa fee

The US Department of State has announced increases in visa application processing fees for a number of non-immigrant visa categories, including students. The new prices will be effective from May 30, 2023.

The increases will affect visitor visas issued for business or tourism purposes and other categories, such as student and exchange visitor visas, the price of which will increase by 15 percent. According to the US Department of State’s release on the increase to certain non-immigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees, it said “Effective May 30, 2023, the fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2), and other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from $160 (Sh22,481.25) to $185 (Sh25,206.25).

The fee for certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from $190 (Sh25,887.50) to $205 (Sh27,931.25). The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from $205 (Sh27,931.25) to $315 (Sh42,918.75).

US Embassy in Nairobi said that they are committed to facilitate legitimate travel for both immigrant and non-immigrant travelers. The fee increase is based on the cost acquired for providing the non-immigrant services. This has been increased after conducting a study.

“The Department of State works hard to keep the costs associated with visas to a minimum, and the Department only recovers the costs of providing these consular services,” it added.

The embassy said that individuals who already paid the existing, lower NIV fee will not have to pay the difference once the fee increases on May 30, 2023.

“All NIV fee payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days. Receipts for NIV fees paid prior to October 1, 2022, will continue to be valid until September 30, 2023,” it said.

The change will not apply to other consular fees, including a waiver of the two-year residency fee that certain exchange visitors are required to pay.

Visa categories that are affected by the hike are:

B1: Business; Domestic employee or nanny – must be accompanying a foreign national employer

B2: Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor

H: Work visas

L: Intra-company transferee

O: Foreign national with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics

P: Performing athlete, artist, entertainer

Q: International cultural exchange visitor

R: Religious worker

E: Treaty trader/treaty investor.