New US visa fees will take effect as of April 13 2012.

The change affect the Nonimmigrant visa application fees (also known as “MRV FEES”) which include:

USD $160 for most visas that do not require a petition, examples of visas in this category are:

• Visitor Visa for business/pleasure
• Exchange Visitor Visa (J)
• Student Visa (F)
• Non-Academic Student visa (M)
• Information Media Representative visa (I)
• Crew visa (C1/D)
• Any other visa class not specifically named as requiring higher tiered fees.

The increase is by $20 from $140 to $160.

USD $190 for petition based visas. These include:

• Temporary workers and trainees (H)
• Intracompany transferees (L)
• Persons with extraordinary ability (O)
• Athletes, artists, and entertainers (P)
• International cultural exchange visitors (Q)
• Religious Workers (R)

A hike of $30 from $160 to $190

The application fees can be paid for at any Postbank branch or through M-Pesa.

Approved visas will be delivered to any of DHL’s 28 locations nationwide free of charge, so travelers won’t have to make return trips to the embassy.