The American dream is set to get more expensive! After announcing a hike of a whopping 70% for US employment-based visas earlier this year, the United States has announced an increase in the US tourist and student visa application fee as well. 

Effective from May 30, the non-immigrant visa application fee will be hiked from the existing $160 to $185. The application fee for the E category will increase to $315 from $205, while the cost of visa application for temporary workers would increase by $15. With thousands of people applying for various US visas, it is to be seen how this will impact tourism in the country. 

Apart from tourist and business visas, the US gets a lot of student visa applications every year. And Indians are the major receivers of these visas. In 2022 alone, approximately 1,25,000 students from India were able to fulfill their dream of studying in USA. 

Also Read: US Tourist or Business Visa Holders Can Now Apply for Jobs

Amid this, the US Consulate in Mumbai has started accepting all immigrant visa services but routine non-immigrant visa services are only limited at the Embassy in New Delhi and consulates in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. 

The USA government is also doing its best to reduce wait times for US visas. This has already helped a lot of visa applicants and has been improving the visa acceptance rate significantly. 

What do you think about the US tourist and student visa hike? Share your opinions in the comment section below! 

Make use of Indian Eagle Reward Points by enrolling in the Reward Program to save more when booking international flights.

The post US Tourist and Student Visa Hike: American Dream Set to Become Costlier from May 30 appeared first on Travel Blog | Travel Inspiration, Tips and News | Travel Diary.

Good news for those who are traveling to the USA. You can now turn your trip to this mighty country into an opportunity to search for employment. Even with a B-1 or B-2 visa, you can apply for jobs in the United States and attend interviews. 

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services posted this update on twitter yesterday after a lot of people inquired whether they can attend interviews while holding a tourist or business visa. They also added that prospective employers must ensure that the applicants change their visa status before they start working in the new role. 

Also Read: US Visa Fee Hike Likely for These Employment-Based Visas

The federal agency also clarified that most non-immigrant workers who have been terminated from their jobs assume they have to leave USA within 60 days. But if they are eligible, they can continue staying in the country for the same period of time. 

The presidential advisory sub-committee also recently recommended extending the grace period to 180 days from the existing 60 days. If accepted, this will be a ray of hope for thousands of workers who have lost their jobs during the massive layoffs by top companies. Indian techies working in the US were also affected by the recent wave of layoffs and might benefit if this recommendation is accepted. 

Apart from this, the United States of America has been making new rules to reduce the visa processing time so people do not have to further delay their American dream. 

Would you be interested in attending an interview while on a trip to America? Share your responses in the comments below.

The post US Tourist or Business Visa Holders Can Now Apply for Jobs and Attend Interviews appeared first on Travel Blog | Travel Inspiration, Tips and News | Travel Diary.