State Department Adds $1 Entry Fee for Diversity Visa Applicants

[OldUser 10,406]

News - https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/state-department-adds-1-entry-fee-for-diversity-visa-applicants

[Boiler 47,936]

A Dollar?

 

wow

[Leeman15251 49]

I’m more surprised they didn’t try to do away with it entirely. I doubt the one dollar fee would discourage many people from entering. 

[PGA 347]

6 hours ago, Boiler said:

A Dollar?

 

wow

Yeah, but if you think about how many applications they receive every year it's some pretty decent bank - 11.8 million applications for 2021. Yes, I know $11.8 million in government terms is not much but maybe it's this type of thinking that needs to be fixed. 

[Crazy Cat 45,281]

I don't think the $1 fee was meant to deter applications. 

[Boiler 47,936]

I wondered if they were using it to collect payment information, lets say 1000 applicant all used the same method?

[PGA 347]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

I wondered if they were using it to collect payment information, lets say 1000 applicant all used the same method?

Excellent point. Now, we just need to implement an additional $5000 "adjustment of status fee" so maybe people will stop changing their intent at baggage claim. 😝

[From_CAN_2_US 1,157]

7 hours ago, PGA said:

Yeah, but if you think about how many applications they receive every year it's some pretty decent bank - 11.8 million applications for 2021. Yes, I know $11.8 million in government terms is not much but maybe it's this type of thinking that needs to be fixed. 

Yeah this is actually a smart move. It is a win-win. Diversity category is maintained and still effectively "free" to apply. USCIS gets some decent funding to cover some of its costs in running the program.

[OldUser 10,406]

43 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

Yeah this is actually a smart move. It is a win-win. Diversity category is maintained and still effectively "free" to apply. USCIS gets some decent funding to cover some of its costs in running the program.

11.8M is not much. I think it's to weed out people who are not serious 

[PGA 347]

23 minutes ago, OldUser said:

11.8M is not much. I think it's to weed out people who are not serious 

Well, I was going to respond that maybe it's this kind of thinking that has us over $37t in debt; but now I'm thinking maybe a $20 fee is more appropriate - speaking of lottery, some scratchers are $50 now. Anyway, $1 definitely seems too low considering there is an application, a web portal, a computer system, database, etc., that all needs to be designed and maintained.  

[Crazy Cat 45,281]

7 minutes ago, PGA said:

but now I'm thinking maybe a $20 fee is more appropriate

I'm thinking $170.  That would bring it an even $500 registration fee.  It doesn't make much sense to add $1 to an existing $330 fee.

Edited 7 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[piano 32]

I'm assuming this is more of a prevent fraudulent submission/spam stopgap; a charge similar to the way the post office charges a fee for identify confirmation if you want to forward your mail. 

[JeanneAdil 7,240]

there were  19,927,656 applications for the 2025 and that's almost 20 million dollars

think of it this way 

its easier to get $1 out of 1 million people than 1 million out of 1 ( in this case Congress help with  funding)

[PGA 347]

31 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

I'm thinking $170.  That would bring it an even $500 registration fee.  It doesn't make much sense to add $1 to an existing $330 fee.

Yes, but the $330 is only if you actually are awarded correct? An application fee could be some big money. If you're saying $170 to apply and then $330 additional if you actually win, count me in! I like that idea.