The application fee for a US immigrant visa will increase from US$335 to US$355, from January 1, 2008, a press release from the US Embassy said on Friday.

The Embassy said the increased fee reflects the cost of enhanced biometric security features that have been added to the immigrant visa system. “Currently, most immigrant visa applicants pay their fees in the United States through a fee system sent by the US Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) in New Hampshire. All bills sent by NVC after January 1, 2008 will reflect this increase,” the Embassy said.

Applicants who have paid the prior US$335 application fee before New Year will be processed without further payment, even if they appear for an immigrant visa interview after January 1. Applicants who make their payment after the said date will be required to pay the US$20 difference “even if their original fee bill was sent prior to January 1, 2008.” Applicants can pay the fee difference at the US Embassy.

The fee increase also impacts Diversity Visa applicants, who pay this fee at the time of their interview.