“As early as 2004, when the current visa fees were calculated, the $100 fee did not cover all expenses,” the US State Department said in a statement. “And after mandatory fingerprinting of every visa applicant was introduced, the costs of processing applications increased significantly.”
From January 1, 2008, the fee for most countries and most visa categories is set at $131. Applicants who personally submitted a visa application before December 31, 2007, will pay the old rate of $100. If a foreign citizen applied for a visa before January 1 but did not appear in person at the consulate, they will have to pay an additional $31.