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Revision of the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services

October 28, 2002

Effective November 1, 2002, the U.S. Department of State is raising the worldwide nonimmigrant visa fee to $100. Currently $65, this processing fee is charged for all nonimmigrant visa and border crossing card applications. This adjustment will bring the fee into line with the actual costs of administering nonimmigrant visas services.

The State Department has congressional authorization to fund the Department Border Security Program with user fees. These fees are adjusted periodically to reflect the actual cost of the program. Added security screening procedures, restrictions on the role of support staff, and further increases in management oversight implemented since September 11 have added to the cost of nonimmigrant visa processing. The Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee was introduced in 1994 and is the program's primary source of revenue.

The Department is facing a critical revenue shortfall because the $65 fee simply does not recover the full cost of service. In consultation with the White House's Office of Management and Budget, the Department determined that the shortfall should be met by an increase in the fee rather than by an appropriation of U.S. tax revenues. Taking into account the lower applicant volume and the budget required to administer the Border Security Program, the Department has determined that a fee of $100 is necessary to recover costs.

Please find more detailed information about non-immigrant visa procedure below.

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SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT U.S. CONSULAR SERVICES 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 $100 (in Litas according to exchange rate of the day payment is made) at any branch of '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 Embassy Consular Section or can be downloaded at www.usembassy.lt.

- Applicants should provide information about employment/studies, income, property, and finances in order to prove strong ties with Lithuania and absence of intention to stay illegally in the United States

Fraud or Misrepresentation During the Visa Process:

If an applicant presents fraudulent information to obtain a visa, he/she may be detained by the Lithuanian police at the Embassy and barred permanently from entering the U.S.

Contact information:

US Embassy Vilnius phone number: (370 5) 2665500

E-mail for inquiries: consec@state.gov