美国欲提高非移民类型签证费用

The administration of President Joe Biden has proposed increasing the cost of almost all nonimmigrant visas.
拜登政府建议提高几乎所有非移民签证的费用。

U.S. officials say the price increase is needed to balance the cost of visa services. But critics say, if the wait times for the documents are not shortened, increased visa costs could mean fewer travelers and students coming to the United States.
美国官员表示，需要提高价格以平衡签证服务的成本。但是批评者表示，如果不缩短出签时间，提高签证费用可能意味着赴美旅客和学生数量减少。

The Federal Register, the official journal publication of the U.S. government, published the proposal in late December. It said the State Department expects the new prices to go into effect by September. The State Department is accepting comments on the proposed increases until February 28.
美国政府官方刊物《联邦公报》于去年12月下旬公布了这一提案。它表示，国务院预计新价格将于今年9月生效。美国国务院正对此次拟议涨价征求意见，截至日期为2月28日。

David Bier is an immigration policy expert at the Cato Institute, a research group in Washington, D.C. Bier told VOA: "All of the fee increases are happening at a time when tourism and travel to the United States is already at an all-time low, and the State Department is imposing waits of six months to a year in many places for a tourist- or business-travel visa."
大卫·比尔是卡托研究所的移民政策专家，这是华盛顿特区的一家研究机构。比尔对美国之音表示：“所有的涨价都发生在赴美观光和旅行已经处于历史最低水平的时期，美国国务院在许多地区对旅游或商务旅行签证推行6到12个月的等待时间。”

State Department information shows that the most popular visas are for tourism, business and study.
美国国务院资料显示，最热门的是旅游、商务和留学签证。

A nonimmigrant visa permits the holder to travel as a tourist or live, work or study temporarily in the U.S. under defined conditions. B1 and B2 visas are for business and tourism. Visas F, M, and J are student visas. Their price is increasing from $160 to $245, a 54 percent increase. Visas H, L, O, P, Q, and R are for employment. Their price is increasing from $190 to $310, a 63 percent increase.
非移民签证允许持有人在规定条件下赴美旅游，或临时居住、工作或学习。B1和B2签证适用于商务和旅游。F、M和J类签证是学生签证。它们的价格从160美元涨到了245美元，涨幅为54%。H、L、O、P、Q和R类签证适用于就业。它们的价格从190美元涨到了310美元，涨幅为63%。

Bier said that the most important thing is that the visas are given quickly. He said, if the State Department increases the cost, but does not improve service, the result will be fewer travelers to the U.S.
比尔表示，最重要的快速出签。他说，如果国务院涨价但是服务没改善，结果会导致赴美旅客减少。

Longer waits
长时间等待

On Biden's first day in office, he presented the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. The bill would have called for big changes in immigration policy. But, Congress has not acted on the legislation.
在拜登上任首日，他就提出了《2021年美国公民法案》。该法案要求对移民政策进行重大改革。但是国会尚未处理该法案。

Some immigration experts say Biden overturned many of former President Trump's immigration policies. These experts say an executive order from Trump is responsible for creating longer wait times.
一些移民专家表示，拜登推翻了前总统川普的许多移民政策。这些专家表示，川普的行政命令造成了更长的等待时间。

In addition, the State Department suspended usual visa services at all U.S. embassies and consulates in 2020 because of the COVID-19 health crisis. Restrictions related to the new coronavirus have added to longer wait times. The Cato Institute said that the State Department will slowly bring back visa service, but about a fourth of offices are partly or fully closed.
此外，由于新冠肺炎健康危机，美国国务院于2020年暂停了所有美国大使馆和领事馆的常规签证服务。新冠病毒相关限制加重了长时间等待。卡托研究所表示，美国国务院将缓慢恢复签证服务，但是约有四分之一的办公室会部分或全部关闭。

Bier said in January most consulates reported waits of 202 days for a visa appointment for business travelers or tourists. In April 2021, the usual wait was 95 days. For students and exchange visitors, the wait was about 38 days. That is up from 25 days a year ago. Waits for appointments for most other visas, including skilled and temporary workers, is 62 days. That is up from 40 days in April 2020.
比尔表示，一月份大多数领事馆 报告称，商务旅客或游客的签证预约等待时间为202天。2021年4月的常规等待时间为95天。对于学生和交流访问者，等待时间约为38天。这比一年前的25天有所增加。大多数其它类型签证（包括技术工人和临时工）的预约等待时间为62天。这比2020年4月的40天有所增加。

Effect on students, workers
对学生和工人的影响

A State Department spokesperson explained that consular operations are supported by the visa fees. The proposed fee increase is to make sure the agency is recovering the costs for providing its services.
美国国务院发言人解释称，领事业务由签证费用支撑运转。拟议的涨价是为了确保该机构能够覆盖服务成本。

Jill Welch is a policy adviser to the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. Welch said the increased costs need to result in better service, especially shorter wait times. That is important for students who need to enter the U.S. in time for school. The group is still considering how the new policy will affect international students.
吉尔·韦尔奇是美国高等教育和移民校长联盟的政策顾问。韦尔奇表示，涨价需要带来更好的服务，尤其是更短的等待时间。这对于需要及时赴美留学的学生来说非常重要。该机构仍在分析新政策会如何影响到国际学生。

I'm Gregory Stachel.
我是格雷戈里·斯塔切尔。