U.S. Visa Fee Hike, Impacting Indian Applicants

The US has initiated a hike in visa fees for categories including H1B, L1, and EB5, affecting many Indian applicants. This increase, effective from April 1, marks the first significant raise since 2016. The heightened fees aim to aid the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in covering operational expenses and expediting application processing.

According to USCIS, employers sponsoring H1B visas will encounter a 70% fee increase, while applicants for L1 and O1 visas will witness respective rises of 201% and 129%.

Furthermore, a new Asylum Program fee of $600 will be implemented for specific worker and immigrant petitions. Notably, the electronic registration fee for H-1B visas will surge from $10 to $215. The I-130 form, crucial for family reunification, will see a 26% hike to $675, while bringing a fiancé to the U.S. via Form I-129F will now cost $675, up from $535.

Additionally, applying for American citizenship will become pricier, although the online application for naturalization with biometric services will decrease from $725 to $710.

The fee for EB5, the investment-linked green card visa program, will soar from $3,675 to $11,160 for the initial I-829 application, potentially influencing the decisions of affluent Indian investors seeking U.S. residency.

Experts advise prospective EB5 investors to act swiftly before the fee hike takes full effect. The EB5 program, established in 1990, allows high-net-worth foreign investors to secure a U.S. visa by investing a minimum of $500,000 in a U.S. business.

While the H1B visa application fee will increase from $460 to $780, and the registration fee will surge from $10 to $215, the higher rate will not apply to this year's registration period. L1 application fees will rise from $460 to $1,385. A $600 Asylum Program Fee will be imposed on each Form I-129 and Form I-140, with exemptions for non-profit employers and reduced fees for small employers at $300.