PRESS RELEASE

Change in Fees for Consular Services Effective March 8, 2005

March 7, 2005

Effective March 8, 2005, fees for consular services at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide will change. Changes in fees for the principal consular services are listed below:

The Department of State is required by law and regulation to recover the actual costs of providing most consular services through user fees. To comply, the fees for consular services are adjusted periodically. The last major revision of the Schedule of Fees was in 2002.

AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES FEE

  • Passport Fee: $12
    New fee for a security enhancement surcharge of $12, to be added to current passport fees.

IMMIGRANT VISA SERVICE FEE

  • All Immigrant Visa Processing Fee: $45
    New fees for a security enhancement surcharge of $45, to be added to immigrant visa fees ($335).

  • DV Lottery Fee: $375
    An increase in the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery surcharge for diversity immigrant visa application, from $100 to $375. Applicants who have been selected in the lottery and are pursuing their applications will pay the new DV lottery fee of $375 and the $45 IV surcharge.

  • Transportation Letter Fee: $165
    A reduction in the transportation letter fee for a Legal Permanent Resident Alien (LPR) who has lost or had his/her passport stolen and needs to reenter the U.S. from abroad, from $300 to $165.

NON-IMMIGRANT VISA SERVICE FEE

  • L-1 Blanket Visa Fee: $500
    New fee for a $500 fraud prevention and detection fee for principal applicants applying for L-1 visas under blanket provisions abroad.