The U.S. State Department on
July 13 will raise the price for visas, passports and other consular
services—some by more than $300—to reflect what the department determined is
the true cost to provide such services.
For an adult passport, the
State Department will begin charging $110—$35 more than the current price—plus
a $25 execution fee, which is not retained by the department. Meanwhile, the
cost for some visas will jump by even greater amount. For example, an
employment-based immigrant visa will cost $720 under the new pricing scheme,
compared with the previous $355.
The department's Bureau of
Consular Affairs in June 2009 completed a study to assess the full cost to the
government to process and issue visas and passports, calling it "the most detailed and exhaustive
ever conducted by the Department of State."
Following that study, the department "established the true cost of
providing these consular services, which by law must be recovered through
collection of fees," the State Department said this week.