2005 Press Releases

Revision of Schedule of Fees for Consular Services

March 7, 2005

Freetown
Contact: Rodmire Taylor-Smith
Tel: 226481

The U.S. Department of State has revised the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services. The new schedule will be effective March 8, 2005, at which time the fees for certain services provided by the Department of State and by U.S. embassies and consulates abroad will change.

The main objective of the proposed adjustments to the schedule of consular fees is to assure that the State Department recovers the cost of consular services, through user fees, to the maximum extent. The revised Schedule of Fees for Consular Services also reflects new surcharges authorized in the 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

The new schedule of Consular fees is as follows:

An increase in the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery surcharge for diversity immigrant visa applications from $100 to $375.

An increase in the passport file search fee from $45 to $60 and a reduction in the fee charged for issuance of a transportation letter for Legal Permanent Resident Aliens (LPRA) to reenter the U.S. from abroad from $300 to $165.

Additional revisions include:

• A surcharge of $12 to be added to current passport fees.
• A surcharge of $45 to be added to the current fees for immigrant visas; and,
• A $500 "fraud prevention and detection fee" for persons applying for L-1 visas under "blanket" provisions abroad.