The Department of State (DOS) has increased several fees for consular services effective June 4, 2010. Of significance are the new, variable fees for nonimmigrant visa applicants who complete the universal Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application).

• For H, L, O, P, Q and R nonimmigrants, the visa application fee will increase (from $131) to $150.
• For E-1, E-2 and E-3 nonimmigrants, the new visa application fee will be $390.

NOTE: These new fees apply both to the principal visa applicant and to each dependent family member because DOS has made no distinction between the visa fees for principal applicants and those for derivative family members. In other words, an E-2 treaty investor or employee with an accompanying spouse and two children will now pay $1,560 in visa application fees! For a full list of the new fees, please click here.

In the interim regulation that DOS published, DOS made two interesting admissions:

1. The new, web-based, all-electronic DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application has thus far not resulted in any significant time savings for U.S. consular staff.
2. The increased visa application fees may case some countries to increase visa fees charged to U.S. visa applicants.