Press Release

U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa Fee Increase

On January 1, 2008, the application fee for a U.S. non-immigrant visa will increase from US$100 to US$131.  Application fees can be paid in US dollars or the US dollar equivalent in Namibian dollars or South Africa rand. 

Due to new security-related costs, new information technology systems and inflation, the fee that the U.S. Embassy has been collecting will no longer cover the actual cost of processing non-immigrant visas. 

Applicants who paid the prior US$100 application fee before January 1, 2008, will not be affected, and their applications will be processed without further payment only if they appear for a visa interview before January 31, 2008.  Applicants who paid the prior US$100 application fee, and appear for a visa interview after January 31, 2008, must pay the difference of US$31 before they will be interviewed.  Any payments made after January 1, 2008, must be for the full US$131 fee, regardless of the interview date.

The U.S. government has raised its application fee for non-immigrant visas twice since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.  Both increases were in 2002, when the fee went up from US$45 to US$65, and then to the current fee of US$100.  The Department of State has added a number of security enhancements -- such as the collection of biometrics (digital pictures and fingerprints) -- to ensure that no one may steal your identity.  These enhancements were required by U.S. law and, unfortunately, have raised the cost of applying for a visa to the United States.

For further information, please contact Public Affairs Officer, Ray Castillo, at 0811280816, or Information Specialist, Roger Lyners, at 229801 [ext. 226].