Start →

9 FAM 601.5

VISA FEES

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015) (Office of Origin: CA/VO/L/R)



9 FAM 601.5��1
RELATED STATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES


9 FAM601.5��1(A)
Immigration and Nationality Act

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)

INA 221(c) (8 U.S.C. 1201(c));
INA 281 (8 U.S.C. 1351).


9 FAM601.5��1(B)
Code of Federal Regulations

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)

22 CFR 22.1;
22 CFR 41.107; 42.71(b).


9 FAM601.5��1(C)Public Law

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995
        a) (Public Law 103��236, Title I, Section 140).



9 FAM 601.5��2
VISA FEES – OVERVIEW

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)

The revenue
        a) generated by consular fees,
                i) including visa fees,

1) is a vital source of funding for
        a) our consular operations and
        b) other activities
                i) that support the Department��s border security mission.

Consular managers play a critical role
        a) in ensuring that
                i) the appropriate fees are properly
                        A) collected and
                        B) accounted for.

Most fees
        a) for consular services

1) are application fees and
2) are charged
        a) to cover the cost of
                A) processing an application and/or
                B) providing a specific service.



9 FAM 601.5��3
TYPES OF VISA FEES


9 FAM 601.5��3(A)
Nonimmigrant Visa Fees

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)
(Previous location: 9 FAM 41.113 PN5(a); CT:VISA��1745 10��19��2011)

a. Types of Fees:

There are two types
        a) of nonimmigrant visa fees:

        (1) Application processing fee
                i) (also known as
                        A) the ��MRV application fee�� or
                        B) ��MRV fee��); and

        (2) Issuance fee
                i) (also known as
                        A) the ��reciprocity fee�� or
                        B) ��issuance fee��).

b. MRV Fee:

(Previous location: 9 FAM 41.107 N2; CT:VISA��1805 02��13��2012)

(1) Section 140
        a) of Public Law 103��236

1) authorizes the Secretary of State
        a) to collect a surcharge
                i) for processing applications for
                        A) machine��readable nonimmigrant visas and
                        B) machine��readable combined border��crossing cards (BCCs).

The fee is set forth
        a) by regulation at 22 CFR 22.1.

(Previous location: 9 FAM 41.113 PN5(b); CT:VISA��1745 10��19��2011)

(2) The application processing fee is not reciprocal and

1) all applicants must pay
2) regardless of the type of passport held,
3) except as noted in 9 FAM 403.4��3(A).

(3) You may not charge an additional MRV fee
        a) to applicants
                i) refused under INA 221(g)
                ii) who re��apply
                        A) within one year of that refusal, or
        b) to applicants
                i) who receive a replacement MRV
                        A) because of a defective foil.

(4) See 9 FAM 403.4��2(A)
        a) for additional information
                i) on MRV application processing fees.

(Previous location: 9 FAM 41.107 N1; CT:VISA��1805 02��13��2012)

c. Issuance Fee:

(1) The reciprocity fee
        a) to be collected
                i) for the issuance of a nonimmigrant visa

1) is prescribed
        a) in the appropriate country��specific reciprocity schedule.

These schedules,
        a) required by
                i) INA 221(c) and
                ii) INA 281,

1) are based upon the treatment
        a) accorded U.S. citizens
                i) by the governments of the countries concerned and
2) apply to
        a) nationals,
        b) permanent residents,
        c) refugees, and
        d) stateless residents
                i) of those countries.

(2) See
        a) 9 FAM 403.4��2(B)
                i) for more information
                        A) on NIV issuance fees, and
        b) 9 FAM 403.4��3(B)
                i) regarding exemptions
                        A) to NIV reciprocity fees.


9 FAM 601.5��3(B)
Immigrant Visa Fees

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)
(Previous location: 9 FAM 42.71 N1; CT:VISA��538 05��14��2003)

a. Schedule of Fees:

The Secretary of State has prescribed a single fee
        a) combining the costs of
                i) processing and
                ii) issuance
                        A) of the immigrant visa.

An additional application fee is charged
        a) for persons
                i) selected for the Diversity Program.

The fees are specified
        a) in 22 CFR 22.1.

(Previous location: 9 FAM 42.71 N2.1; CT:VISA��1857; 08��14��2012)

b. Collection of Fees:

(1) A single fee is charged
        a) combining the costs of
                i) processing and
                ii) issuance
                        A) of the immigrant visa.

An individual
        a) registered for immigrant visa processing
                i) at a post designated
                ii) for this purpose
                iii) by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services

1) must pay the processing fee.

The fee must be paid

1) when the individual is notified
        a) that a visa is expected
                i) to become available in the near future and
        b) he or she is requested
                i) to obtain the supporting documentation
                        A) needed to apply formally for a visa.

(2) For cases
        a) processed through the National Visa Center (NVC),

1) this fee will be collected
        a) during initial processing
        b) by NVC.

Posts will collect the visa processing fee
        a) only for those cases
                i) in which the petition is filed
                        A) at post or
                ii) in which the visa file otherwise indicates that
                        A) the fee has not yet been collected.

c. See 9 FAM 504.6 for additional information on immigrant visa fees.



9 FAM 601.5��4
ACCOUNTABILITY AND VISA FEES

(CT:VISA��1; 11��18��2015)

a. Accountability in General:

Please see 7 FAH��1 H��646.1.

b. Ensuring Integrity and Accountability:

Please see 7 FAH��1 H��711.

c. Staff Handling Cash Advances and Collections:

Please see
        a) 4 FAM 043 and 045 and
        b) 4 FAH��3 H��317.

See standard operating procedures
        a) in 7 FAH��1 H��770.

d. More information:

See 7 FAH��1 H��720
        a) for information on consular fees.

e. Roles and Responsibilities:

7 FAH��1 H��730 provides information
        a) on the various roles and responsibilities
                i) in collecting and accounting for consular fees.

f. Collection of Fees by Credit Card:

See 7 FAH��1 H��760.

e. Automated Cash Register System (ACRS):

Please see 7 FAH��1 H��771.

← End