Traveling overseas and obtaining immigration visas are about to
get pricier.
Hollister – Traveling overseas and obtaining immigration visas are about to get pricier.
As part of the U.S. government’s efforts to strengthen border security, people seeking new passports beginning March 8 will have to pay a $12 surcharge, and those seeking immigration visas will have to pay an additional $45.
The U.S. State Department is imposing the fees to pay for improvements to various forms of identification used to cross U.S. borders.
“We’re moving toward a biometrics passport,” said Kelly Shannon, spokeswoman for the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. “The U.S. is developing passports with facial recognition technology, as well as redesigning the passport itself for greater security.”
The new fee will be tacked on to the existing passport charges of $97, which includes a $30 processing fee for the initial paperwork.
Processing time is usually four to six weeks, but can be fast-tracked for an additional $60.
To obtain a passport application online, visit www.travel.state.gov.
Immigration visas vary in price, depending on whether the visa is for study, work, or some other status. People can obtain visas through U.S. Immigration Naturalization Service.
For more information, visit www.uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm or call 800-375-5283.
