Applicant Fee for Non-Immigrant Visa to Increase on January 1, 2008

Effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa will increase from $100 to $131 (payable in local currency).  In the UAE, visa applicants must pay the fee at selected branches of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi in all seven Emirates.

Applicants who have a receipt for the $100 application fee dated before January 1, 2008 and who complete their visa interview before January 31, 2008 will be processed without further payment.  Applicants who have receipts for the $100 application fee dated before January 1, 2008 but have visa interviews scheduled after January 31, 2008 must pay the difference -- $31 – at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai on the day that they appear for their interview.  Any payments made after January 1, 2008, regardless of the interview date, must be for the full $131 USD fee (payable in local currency).

The Department of State is increasing the nonimmigrant visa application fee because of new security-related costs, new information technology systems, and inflation.  This is the first time the fee has increased since 2002.  Over the past six years, there have been many security enhancements to the visa process which have added to its cost. 

The new fee is not likely to cause a drop in the number of nonimmigrant visa applicants.  Worldwide, visa applications have recovered from the immediate post 9/11 slump and are now setting new records in most categories.