US EMBASSY IN YEREVAN DENIES RUMORS ABOUT DECREASED VISA FEES

ArmenPress
Nov 26 2004

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS: The US embassy in Yerevan denied
today rumors about plans to change application fees. The US Consul
Mary Stickles said the Consulate will continue to charge $100 for
each visa application, adding there are no plans for an increase.

The Consulate said in fact, visa fees have been lowered for some
visa types. The fee for multiple-entry visa to visit the US has been
lowered to $50 US, effective immediately, a drastic decrease from
the $300 US previously charged.

It said the US visa fees are set to correspond to what the citizens of
the United States are charged in order to visit Armenia. In addition
to maximum validity period for multiple-entry visas has been extended
to twelve months from the previous six-month limit.

Single-entry visas will continue to require no additional fees beyond
the application charge, and will remain valid for three months.

The application fee, which is separate from the cost of the visa,
is used to recover some of the administrative costs associated with
new visa security requirements and new fraud prevention efforts.

“The embassy has not made the visa process more expensive to the
applicant. In fact, for many travelers, we have reduced the cost and
lengthened the validity of their visas,” US Consul Mary Sticklers said.