US raises visa fees
Aug 04, 2010
UGANDANS who intend to travel to the US will have to part with more money for a visa. The fees have increased from $131 (sh301,300) to $390 (sh897,000) effective June 4, an increment of $259 (sh595,700).
By Chris Kiwawulo
UGANDANS who intend to travel to the US will have to part with more money for a visa. The fees have increased from $131 (sh301,300) to $390 (sh897,000) effective June 4, an increment of $259 (sh595,700).
According to the US mission’s statement, the increase is to help meet the rising costs of processing non-immigrant visas.
The US state department last increased the fees in January 2008, from $100 to $131 to address fingerprint costs.
Whereas the 2008 increase cut across all categories, there are different costs for different categories of applicants this time round.
“The non-petition based visas have increased from $131 to $140. This category includes students and temporary visitors.
“Petition-based visas, meant for temporary workers, artists, athletes and religious leaders have increased from $131 to $150,†the embassy said.
Those for spouses of US citizens have gone up from $131 to $350, while those for traders and investors are at $390 from $131.
“All visa applicants must pay the fees before their visa interview at the mission. Applicants may pay the fee in either US dollars or the equivalent in Uganda shillings,†the statement read.
The embassy revealed that the US government had increased the visa fees globally, based on a June 2009 independent cost of service study.
According to the study, the previous fee did not cover the costs of security-related processing, information technology systems, or inflation.
The fees come a month after the US introduced new visa guidelines, which became operational on June 1.
Among the new guidelines is applying for a US visa and setting appointments for interviews online.
Bridgette Anderson, the US consular, advised that in the case of Uganda where the Internet is slow, applicants would have to drop their passport photos at the embassy, with supporting documents such as bank statements and pay slips.
Anderson said successful applicants would be able to pick their visas within 24 hours after the interviews.
UGANDANS who intend to travel to the US will have to part with more money for a visa. The fees have increased from $131 (sh301,300) to $390 (sh897,000) effective June 4, an increment of $259 (sh595,700).
According to the US mission’s statement, the increase is to help meet the rising costs of processing non-immigrant visas.
The US state department last increased the fees in January 2008, from $100 to $131 to address fingerprint costs.
Whereas the 2008 increase cut across all categories, there are different costs for different categories of applicants this time round.
“The non-petition based visas have increased from $131 to $140. This category includes students and temporary visitors.
“Petition-based visas, meant for temporary workers, artists, athletes and religious leaders have increased from $131 to $150,†the embassy said.
Those for spouses of US citizens have gone up from $131 to $350, while those for traders and investors are at $390 from $131.
“All visa applicants must pay the fees before their visa interview at the mission. Applicants may pay the fee in either US dollars or the equivalent in Uganda shillings,†the statement read.
The embassy revealed that the US government had increased the visa fees globally, based on a June 2009 independent cost of service study.
According to the study, the previous fee did not cover the costs of security-related processing, information technology systems, or inflation.
The fees come a month after the US introduced new visa guidelines, which became operational on June 1.
Among the new guidelines is applying for a US visa and setting appointments for interviews online.
Bridgette Anderson, the US consular, advised that in the case of Uganda where the Internet is slow, applicants would have to drop their passport photos at the embassy, with supporting documents such as bank statements and pay slips.
Anderson said successful applicants would be able to pick their visas within 24 hours after the interviews.