The US embassy in Islamabad has announced an increase in visa fees for US tourist and non-petition-based non-immigrant visas, including student and exchange visitor visas. Effective May 30, the application fee will be raised from $160 to $185, as stated by the embassy on Instagram.
In addition to the fee increase for tourist and non-petition based non-immigrant visas, the embassy also mentioned that the fee for petition-based visa applications (H, L, O, P, and Q), including visas for temporary workers, will be raised from $190 to $205.
Furthermore, the embassy announced an increase in the fee for e-visas, which will be raised from $205 to $315.
According to the embassy’s statement, the fee adjustments are attributed to the increased cost of services provided. The embassy emphasized the significance of international travel to the US economy and clarified that the visa fee is determined through an annual review of service costs.
It is important to note that non-immigrant visas are intended for temporary stays in the US, such as tourism, business visits, study purposes, or specialized work assignments.
The statement also clarified that payments made for the non-immigrant visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee, on or after October 1, 2022, will remain valid for 365 days from the date of receipt issuance. Applicants are required to schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application within this 365-day period. However, the interview itself does not need to take place within the 365-day timeframe.
For payments made before October 1, 2022, the statement mentioned that all receipts for the MRV fees have been extended until September 30, 2023, and will remain valid until that date.
These adjustments in visa fees impact individuals from Pakistan and other countries seeking temporary entry into the US for various purposes.
