As per the reports, there is a 15% hike in the visa application fee for students and other categories in the United States.
The US Department of State recently said that fees for processing applications for non-immigrant visas, such as those for students, will go up. As per the reports, a major sector of individuals visiting the US for business or tourism purposes will be affected. There is a 15 per cent shift in application processing from $ 160 to $ 185.
According to the media release, the department in the USA revealed that since this increase is captured in the Federal Register at the end of March 2023, the changes will go into effect on May 30, 2023.
There will be variations in multiple categories of visa application wherein the fee for temporary workers is increased by 8 per cent from $ 190 to $ 205. But the changes won’t affect consular fees, like waiving the fee for living in the country for two years.
The report further highlights the importance of international travel, which comes under Joe Biden’s foreign policy. Later, the department says that Joe Biden’s foreign policy is built around work and tourist visas.
Earlier, US officials said that getting a visa would be easy because there was an online form for processing. The premium processing fee applies to students who choose optional practical training (OPT) and who seek F-1 visas for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The Director of USCIS, Ur M. Jaddou, brought to our attention that the issuance of visas through premium processing will streamline the process and make it easier for international students.