U.S. raises visa fee to $100<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: As of Nov. 1, the United States government is increasing
\nthe visa fee at its embassies worldwide from the current US$65
\nper application to $100 in a bid to recover the full cost of the
\nservice, the embassy announced on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The embassy said in a statement that the increase in the visa
\nfee was to fund the increasing nonimmigrant visa processing.<\/p>\n
It said the Department of State, which processes visa
\napplications, was facing a critical revenue shortfall as the
\ncurrent visa fee did not cover the full cost of the service.<\/p>\n
\"Because of lowered applicant volume and the budget required
\nto administer the Border Security Program, a fee of $100 is
\nnecessary to recover costs,\" it said.<\/p>\n
The embassy also said that more than half of the backlog of
\nIndonesian visa applicants had been cleared.<\/p>\n
It noted that foreign travelers into the U.S., including
\nIndonesians, would now have speedier visa decisions due to the
\nimplementation of an automated process.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the embassy still encouraged Indonesians to
\napply for the visa as early as possible to ensure they were able
\nto leave on time.<\/p>\n
Travelers heading to the U.S. should also allow extra time to
\nmake travel connections after arriving at U.S. ports of entry as
\nstarting Oct. 1, the U.S. implemented the National Security
\nEntry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), involving registration,
\nfingerprinting and photographing of some individuals.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-raises-visa-fee-to-100-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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