US increases visa fee
 

Didn't see it posted yet when I did the search but here it goes. 10 fingerprints required in the future and now this.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstorie....php?id=124423


"Washington - The US will increase its visa fees beginning January 1, the State Department said.

Tourists and those travelling for business who apply for non- immigrant visas will now pay 131 dollars, up from the current 100 dollars.

The move is part of an effort to cover costs for heightened security measures, including the collection of 10 fingerprints to check visitors against a terrorist database.

Citizens of 27 primarily western European countries are not required to obtain visas for visits of 90 days or less.

Over the next few months, major US airports from Boston to San Francisco will start requiring 10 fingerprints from most non-US citizens - not just both index fingers - to help prevent terrorism.

By the end of 2008, all US points of entry will enforce the rule, the Homeland Security Department (DHS) said .

The new rule will make it easier for border officials to check the fingerprints against a government database of terrorist suspects.

Dulles International, Washington's main airport, started the new procedure November 20. New York's Kennedy airport, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago OHare airport, San Francisco, Houston, Miami, Detroit and Orlando, Florida, will follow during the next few months, DHS said.

To enter the country, most foreign nationals between ages 14 and 79 who arrive in the US or apply for visas will have to provide the digital fingerprints as well as a photograph, DHS said. (dpa)"

Oh this will certainly help rebound the nation's battered tourism number. :rolleyes:

Heads up to those traveling to Chile and other countries that impose a "reciprocity fee" equal to what the U.S. charges their citizens for visas: those will go up to match. Taking a family of four to Chile will now cost $524, in cash, no dirty bills, to get through immigration. (The entry permit is good for the life of the passport to which it's attached, so repeat visitors shouldn't have to pay it again for a while.)

Side note: About 12 more countries may be eligible for the visa waiver program late next year, including Argentina, Brazil, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Israel, Malta, Slovakia, South Korea, Taiwan and Uruguay.

Not surprised seeing as all the other visa and immigration fees went up about 4 months ago.

Ciao,
FH

Will this be done with a new quick 'entire hand' scanner, or using the existing 'single finger' readers 10 times over?

so assume the lines at immigration will be even longer now with 10 fingerprints required. (or 8 finger and 2 thumb!)

Isolationism at its finest. And we wonder why other cultures don't like us very much when the second they enter US soil we treat them like criminals.

Taking a family of four to the US will now cost $524 ;)

And, unlike Chile, where you pay up and you enter, the US fee is an "application fee" with NO guarantee of visa issuance...

Also, lovely round number, $131. They should have made it $131.41, so that in addition of scrambling for a specimen of just about all denominations of US bills you'd have to look for the coins, too.

Many thanks, OP - need a visa for a US conference next year so if I get onto
it on Monday, I should save $31! :)

That's the reason?

I wouldn't call it deliberate isolationism. Just a consequence of neo-liberalist philosophy of making the user pay. That's why we've had so many fees and taxes added to international travel in the past 10-12 years.

That's great isn't it? Not only Chile has the reciprocal policy but I believe China and Brazil as well and I'm planning to visit them next year *sigh*. Btw, which country has the most expensive fee (at least for US passport single entry tourist visa)? Pakistan, $120?

You're right about China. They do charge a reciprocal fee because I applied for a visa for the mainland this past October. Couldn't believe how much it went up.

Boy, am I glad I have my greencard. Do I still need to do fingerprints when arriving in the US?

Drew