US government revises visa processing fees

The US government has announced new visa processing fees to take effect April 13, 2012.

In a press release issued by the Public Attaché of the US Embassy in Accra and copied to ghanabusinessnews.com, it says “the Department of State will adjust visa processing fees.  The fees for most nonimmigrant visa applications and Border Crossing Cards will increase, while all immigrant visa processing fees will decrease.”

Explaining the decision it says the Department is required to recover, as far as possible, the cost of processing visas through the collection of application fees.

“For a number of reasons, the current fees no longer cover the actual cost of processing nonimmigrant visas.  The nonimmigrant visa fee increase will support the addition and expansion of overseas facilities, as well as additional staffing required to  meet increased visa demand,” it adds. And the revision takes effect April 13, 2012.

It indicates that the proposed fees were published in the Federal Register today, and will take effect in 15 days.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi