Congress passed a new bill on an additional fee of $4500 for certain L-1 visa applicants. It is applicable on those petitioners who have at least 50 employees and 50% of those employees are L-1 visas. After the bill passing, President has signed this Omnibus funding bill, said reports.

The bill would be effective from Monday, 21 December, 2015, reported by Consolidated Appropriations Act, the US. Blanket L-1 visas will be covered under this bill.

Also read: H-1B Visa 2017

Sources said, “The American Consulate in Chennai holds most L-1 visas and is highly trafficked consulates in the world”. It has been said that this consulate is very quick in taking decisions and implementing new laws.

For all the new blanket L-1 visas, the consulate will start collecting $4500 per application. Any petitioner who fulfils the above requirements of having 50 employees and 50% of them are L-1 visa, will have to pay $4500 at the time of interview. The money would be paid in Indian rupee-equivalent demand draft.

Since it is applied only to L-1 visas, L-2 applicants are not liable to pay this fee.

The fee has been raised as an addition to $190 MRV fee and $500 Fraud Detection and Prevention Fee.

The consular exchange rate is set to INR 68 per one USD which is effective from 1st September, 2015.

Non-Immigrant Visa Fee	US Dollars	INR (@ Rs. 68/ Per USD)
Tourists, Business and Exchange Visitors, Students, Crew members: B1/B2  C1  D1  F1 / F2   J1/J2  M1/M2 Pay Sevis Fee	$160	Rs. 10880/-
Temporary Employment: H1-B  L1/L2  O-1/O-2/O-3  P1/P2/P3  R1/R2	$190	Rs. 12920/-
Service Charge: Applies to all Nonimmigrant visa applications
L1 Blanket Visa Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee	$500	Rs. 34000/-
9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee	$4500	Rs.306000/-

Since, SEVIS fee can be paid only be credit card, the Rupee Equivalent Amount will be determined by the bank prevailing rates.