9 FAM 601.5
Visa Fees
(CT:VISA-671; 09-05-2018)
(Office of Origin: CA/VO/L/R)
9 FAM 601.5-1 Related statutory
and regulatory Authorities
9 FAM 601.5-1(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 FAM 601.5-1(B) Code of
Federal Regulations
(CT:VISA-232; 10-25-2016)
22 CFR 22.1; 22 CFR 41.107; 22 CFR 42.71(b).
9 FAM 601.5-1(C) Public Law
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and
1995 (Public Law 103-236, Title I, Section 140).
9 FAM 601.5-2 visa fees
overview
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
The revenue generated by consular fees, including visa
fees, is a vital source of funding for our consular operations and other
activities that support the Departments border security mission. Consular
managers play a critical role in ensuring that the appropriate fees are
properly collected and accounted for. Most fees for consular services are
application fees and are charged to cover the cost of processing an application
and/or providing a specific service.
9 FAM 601.5-3 types of visa fees
9 FAM 601.5-3(A) Nonimmigrant
Visa Fees
(CT:VISA-671; 09-05-2018)
a. Types of Fees: There are
two types of nonimmigrant visa fees:
(1) Application processing fee (also known as the MRV
application fee or MRV fee); and
(2) Issuance fee (also known as the reciprocity fee
or issuance fee).
b. MRV Fee:
(1) Section 140 of Public Law 103-236 authorizes the
Secretary of State to collect a surcharge for processing applications for
machine-readable nonimmigrant visas and machine-readable combined
border-crossing cards (BCCs). The fee is set forth by regulation at 22 CFR
22.1. The fee varies depending on the type of
nonimmigrant visa. The fee must be paid regardless of whether the visa is
issued or refused. For further information, see Fees for Visa Services on the travel.state.gov website.
(2) The application processing fee is not reciprocal
and all applicants must pay regardless of the type of passport held, except as
noted in 9
FAM 403.4-3(A).
(3) You may not charge an additional MRV fee to
applicants refused under INA 221(g) who overcome
the refusal within one year of that refusal, or to applicants who
receive a replacement MRV because of a defective foil.
(4) See 9 FAM
403.4-2(A) for additional information on MRV application processing fees and
9 FAM
403.4-3(A) regarding exemptions to
these MRV processing fees.
c. Issuance Fee:
(1) The reciprocity fee to be collected for the
issuance of a nonimmigrant visa is prescribed in the appropriate
country-specific reciprocity schedule. These schedules, required by INA 221(c)
and INA 281, are based upon the treatment accorded U.S. citizens by the
governments of the countries concerned and apply to nationals, permanent
residents, refugees, and stateless residents of those countries. These fees vary depending on the type of visa. The
schedule of fees for each country is given in the Reciprocity Schedule.
(2) See 9 FAM
403.4-2(B) for more information on NIV issuance fees, and 9 FAM
403.4-3(B) regarding exemptions to these fees.
9 FAM 601.5-3(B) Immigrant Visa
Fees
(CT:VISA-671; 09-05-2018)
a. Schedule of Fees: The
Secretary of State has prescribed a single fee combining the costs of
processing and issuance of the immigrant visa. An additional application fee
is charged for persons selected for the Diversity Program. The fees are
specified in 22 CFR 22.1. This fee is charged regardless
of whether or not the immigrant visa is issued.
b. Collection of Fees:
(1) A single fee is charged combining the costs of
processing and issuance of the immigrant visa. An individual registered for
immigrant visa processing at a post designated for this purpose by the Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Visa Services must pay the processing fee. The fee must
be paid when the individual is notified that a visa is expected to become
available in the near future and that he or she must obtain the supporting
documentation needed to submit the visa application.
(2) For cases processed through the National Visa
Center (NVC), this fee will be collected during initial processing by NVC.
Posts will collect the visa processing fee only for those cases in which the
petition is filed at post or in which the visa file otherwise indicates that
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-232; 10-25-2016)
a. Accountability in General:
Please see 7
FAH-1 H-646.1.
b. Ensuring Integrity and
Accountability: Please see 7 FAH-1 H-645 and 7 FAH-1
H-646.1.
c. Staff Handling Cash Advances and
Collections: See 7 FAH-1
H-733.4 and 4 FAH-3
H-393.4.
d. Roles and Responsibilities: 7 FAH-1 H-730
provides information on the various roles and responsibilities in collecting
and accounting for consular fees.
e. Collection of Fees by Credit Card:
See 7 FAH-1
H-722.2.
f. Automated Cash Register System
(ACRS): See 7 FAH-1
H-726.1.
g. More information: See 7 FAH-1 H-720
for information on consular fees.