The US Embassy has announced an increase in application processing fees for a number of non-immigrant visa categories, including students.
The changes were announced by the US Embassy in a statement on Wednesday, May 3.
The new fees will be implemented on May 30, 2023.
The application fee for the most common nonimmigrant visa types, which was previously $160 (KES 21,800), has been increased to $185 (KES 25,206).
This has an impact on tourists, businesses, students, and exchange visas.
Most petition-based visas, such as work and religious visas, will now cost $205 (KES 27,928) instead of $190 (KES 25,885).
“As of May 30, 2023, visa fees will be increasing for certain nonimmigrant visas. Visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s) and other categories, such as student (F) and exchange visitor visas (J), will increase from $160 (KES 21,800) to $185 (KES 25,206), ” the Embassy said.
“The fee for certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from $190 to $205. The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a speciality occupation (E category) will increase from $205 to $315.”
The embassy said individuals who have already paid the existing, lower NIV fee will not have to pay the difference once the fee increases on 30 May 2023.
“All NIV fee payments made on or after 1 October 2022 will be valid for 365 days. Receipts for NIV fees paid before 1 October 2022 will continue to be valid until 30 September 2023,” it said.
“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.
