In response to an inquiry from the Taipei Association of Travel Agents, the American Institute in Taiwan has stated that the processing fee for non-immigrant visas to the United States has been increased to NT$500 as of February 1 and that the waiver of the fee for renewal applications received within one year of the original application has been lifted, so that the fee must be paid by first-time and renewal applicants alike. The fee is to be paid no matter whether a visa is issued or not.
As an example, the institute indicated that applicants over 50 years of age who are applying for a visa for the first time through a travel agency and who normally would not have to be interviewed need not pay the fee again if the institute requires them to be interviewed and does in fact issue them a visa. The fees paid by persons to whom visas are not issued will not be refunded, however.
As for general applicants who need to be interviewed, the institute indicated that the first step in procedures is for applicants to register and then to be interviewed. The applicants will be told to pay the procedures fee if a visa can be issued; if a visa cannot be issued, they will not have to pay.
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