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Revision of the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
May 24, 2002
Released on May 17, 2002
STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN
The U.S. Department of State has revised the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services. The new schedule will be effective June 1, 2002, at which time fees for consular services, excepting passport services, provided by the Department of State and by U.S. embassies and consulates abroad will change. Passport related fees will be revised effective August 19,2002. These adjustments will bring our fees into line with the actual costs of consular services.
The State Department is required by Federal regulations and law to recover the costs of most consular services through user fees, and must adjust the Fee Schedule periodically to comply with that requirement.
The last major revision of the Fee Schedule was in 1998. The new Schedule is based on a cost-of -service study conducted by an independent contractor under the supervision of the Department and reflects the cost of providing consular services in 2002. The new fees are essential to maintaining and improving high-quality customer service while taking advantage of advances in information technology and enhancing the security features of those services that are related to homeland security.
Overseas, the nonimmigrant visa application fee will increase to $65 (from $45). This increased fee will recover the actual cost of the service, including the Machine Readable Visa and processing through our sophisticated name-check technology. Immigrant visa fees will rise to $335 (from $325). Adjustments to fees of services for American citizens overseas include the Consular Report of Birth Abroad documentation fee, which will be raised to $65 (from $40), while the fee for performance of notarial services will be lowered to a two-tiered schedule costing $20 to $30, depending on service rendered (from $55).
Information about the new fee schedule was published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2002. The final rule was promulgated on May 16, 2002.
SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT U.S. CONSULAR SERVICES
AND SERVICE COST CHANGES IN VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
How to apply for a business or tourist visa:
Applicants must appear in person to apply for a United States visa
Applicants must pay $65 (in Litas according to exchange rate of the day payment is made) at any branch of Bank "Vilniaus bankas", in any city in Lithuania. The account number is 4603299. One must have paid at the bank before they will be issued an appointment for interview with the Consul.
Applicants must present a passport valid for at least 6 months from the proposed date of travel
Applicants must complete the application form DS-156, which is available free at the consular section or can be downloaded here.
Also at www.usembassy.lt.
Some Information for the Application (in Lithuanian)
Applicants should provide information about employment, income, property, finances
How to apply for student visa (for students accepted to study at the U.S. schools):
Student applicants must have a completed form I-20 from the school
Secondary school students may attend a public school only if the full, unsubsidized cost of the education has been paid
Students attending a public secondary school must present a receipt showing payment of tuition
Students should provide information about finances and sponsorship
Visa Pick-up:
Visas are issued on an appointment basis
Fraud or Misrepresentation During the Visa Process:
If an applicant presents fraudulent information to obtain a visa, he/she may be barred permanently from entering the U.S.
No one can guarantee that a visa will be issued. The consul makes the decision, and the consul, no one else, issues the visa
