U.S. Consulate General Press Releases (1998)

Changes in Fees for U.S. Government Services Effective February 1, 1998

News Release
January 23, 1998
Friday

The Government of the United States of America has announced worldwide changes in fees for consular services provided by U.S. embassies and consulates. The new fee schedule will come into effect on February 1, 1998. The changes are the result of an analysis of the actual cost of performing various visa, notarial, and passport services outside the United States. Most fees, including those for nonimmigrant visa application processing, immigrant visa issuance, and notarization of documents, will increase. Certain fees for some services to American citizens will be reduced.

The new fees will be as follows:

Nonimmigrant Visas

The fee for nonimmmigrant visa applications submitted after February 1 will be US$45 (HK$360). This non-refundable fee (the machine-readable visa application processing fee) must be paid by all applicants for nonimmigrant visas whether or not a visa is issued. This includes persons submitting new applications after a previous refusal.

Unused US$20 (HK$160) machine-readable visa application fee receipts purchased prior to February 1, 1998, will remain valid for one year from the issuance date, but after February 1 they must be submitted together with a new receipt for US$25 (HK$200) .

In Hong Kong, these fees may be paid at The Bank of America (Asia) or by Easy Payment System (EPS) at the American Consulate General.

Immigrant Visas

The application fee for immigrant visas will be US$260 per person as of February 1. The immigrant visa issuance fee for approved applications will be US$65. In Hong Kong, these fees may be paid in cash, in either U.S. dollars or the equivalent in Hong Kong dollars, at the Consulate General. Thus, applicants who have immigrant visa interviews scheduled on or after February 1 should bring US$325 (HK$2,600) per person to the appointment. Applicants for diversity visas should bring US$400 (HK$3,200) per person -- this includes a US$75 surcharge for diversity visas only.

American Citizen Services

Fees for some services for American citizens will increase as of February 1, while others will go down. The new fee schedule will be:

	First-time passport issuance (For those aged 16 or older)		US$45
	All passport issuances for those aged under 16		US$25
	Passport renewal for those aged 16 or older		US$40
	Passport application execution fee   (Not applicable in most cases)		US$15
	Report of birth abroad of a U.S. citizen		US$40
	Notarial services (oaths and acknowledgments)		US$55
	Adjudication of U.S. citizenship for individuals with    no prior citizenship documentation		US$100

Further Information

Hong Kong residents with questions about any of these services may call the American Consulate General's automated telephone information line at 2841-2560 or use the Consulate General's Fax-on-Demand service at 900-6066-3135.

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