The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday confirmed that US visa application fees would be reduced from tomorrow — the same day that Taiwan’s visa fees are lowered for US nationals.
AIT spokesman Christopher Kavanagh said the new fees, adjusted in accordance with currency exchange rates, had been posted on the AIT Web site.
The AIT, the US’ representative office in Taipei in the absence of diplomatic ties, is responsible for local US visa applications.
The Web site states that, based on a currency exchange rate of US$1 to NT$30, the processing fee will be NT$4,200 for non-immigrant visas, NT$4,500 for temporary worker visas, NT$10,500 for spouse and fiancee visas, and NT$11,700 for investment visas.
NO PRESS RELEASE
In a telephone interview yesterday morning, Kavanagh said the AIT did not issue a press release on the new fees because the change was made as a result of currency adjustments. Based on standard practice, the changes are only posted on the Web site.
A local media report said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had irked the AIT by releasing the news a few days earlier without the US office’s consent.
MOFA spokesman James Chang (章計平) said the ministry did so for two reasons.
“First, we saw the announcement as great news for people, and second, we wanted to get it out as soon as possible because Taiwan was planning to simultaneously lower its visa fees for US passport holders,” Chang said.
VISAS TO TAIWAN
Tourist visa for US citizens will be lowered to NT$4,200, while visas for investors will drop to NT$11,700, the ministry’s Bureau of Consular Affairs said.
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