For the first time since 2012, the U.S. Department of State has published a final rule that will significantly raise application fees for most categories of non-immigrant visas. Effective May 30 2026, the cost of a standard B-1/B-2 visitor or business visa will climb from US$160 to US$185, while petition-based work visas—including the popular H-1B and L-1 categories—will rise from US$190 to US$205. Treaty-trader and investor visas (E-class) see the steepest jump, leaping from US$205 to US$315. The increase follows a comprehensive, Activity-Based Costing study that showed the true cost of consular processing has outpaced the current fee schedule by as much as 25 percent.
According to State Department officials, higher fees are necessary to maintain staffing, modernize IT systems and improve interview backlogs that have stretched to record lengths at many consulates since the pandemic. The new rule was transmitted to the Federal Register late on 4 February and formally posted today, giving businesses and travelers fewer than four months to budget for the higher costs.
If you’re unsure how the new fee structure will impact your travel plans, VisaHQ’s online platform can guide you through the updated pricing, application steps, and appointment logistics. Their dedicated U.S. visa section (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) offers real-time fee calculators, document checklists, and live support, helping both individual travelers and corporate mobility teams file accurately and budget before the increases take effect.
![State Department Final Rule Raises Non-Immigrant Visa Fees for First Time in a Decade]()
From a corporate-mobility perspective, the higher NIV fees will immediately affect relocation budgets, student-intern programs and global commuter populations. U.S. employers that reimburse assignees for visa costs—or that front the fees outright—could see hundreds of thousands of dollars in unplanned expenditures in the next fiscal year. Multinationals may accelerate spring travel or file blanket L petitions before May 30 to lock in the lower rate.
Critics argue that a price hike of this magnitude will disproportionately burden small businesses, research institutions and start-ups that rely on H-1B or O-1 talent, while doing little to solve chronic appointment shortages. The State Department counters that additional revenue will fund expanded consular hours, mobile interview teams and upgraded security vetting, which should shorten wait times over the long term.
In practical terms, travelers with interview dates after 30 May will have to pay the difference—even if they submitted the DS-160 earlier—unless the fee has already been “scanned” by the post. Corporate travel managers are advising employees to complete visa interviews or change appointments before the effective date whenever possible.
According to State Department officials, higher fees are necessary to maintain staffing, modernize IT systems and improve interview backlogs that have stretched to record lengths at many consulates since the pandemic. The new rule was transmitted to the Federal Register late on 4 February and formally posted today, giving businesses and travelers fewer than four months to budget for the higher costs.
If you’re unsure how the new fee structure will impact your travel plans, VisaHQ’s online platform can guide you through the updated pricing, application steps, and appointment logistics. Their dedicated U.S. visa section (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) offers real-time fee calculators, document checklists, and live support, helping both individual travelers and corporate mobility teams file accurately and budget before the increases take effect.
From a corporate-mobility perspective, the higher NIV fees will immediately affect relocation budgets, student-intern programs and global commuter populations. U.S. employers that reimburse assignees for visa costs—or that front the fees outright—could see hundreds of thousands of dollars in unplanned expenditures in the next fiscal year. Multinationals may accelerate spring travel or file blanket L petitions before May 30 to lock in the lower rate.
Critics argue that a price hike of this magnitude will disproportionately burden small businesses, research institutions and start-ups that rely on H-1B or O-1 talent, while doing little to solve chronic appointment shortages. The State Department counters that additional revenue will fund expanded consular hours, mobile interview teams and upgraded security vetting, which should shorten wait times over the long term.
In practical terms, travelers with interview dates after 30 May will have to pay the difference—even if they submitted the DS-160 earlier—unless the fee has already been “scanned” by the post. Corporate travel managers are advising employees to complete visa interviews or change appointments before the effective date whenever possible.
