New Visa Prices in the USA and Japan
New Visa Prices in the USA and Japan
美國與日本的簽證新價格
Introduction
The USA and Japan have new prices for visas. These changes start on July 1.
美國與日本調整了簽證價格。這些變動將於 7 月 1 日起生效。
Main Body
The USA has a new fast service for B1 and B2 visas. People pay $185 for the visa and $750 for the fast service. This helps people get interviews quickly.
美國現在為 B1 和 B2 簽證提供了一項新的快速服務。申請人需支付 185 美元的簽證費及 750 美元的快速服務費。這有助於申請人更快速地獲得面試機會。
Japan is raising visa prices for the first time since 1978. One-time visas now cost 15,000 yen. Multiple-entry visas now cost 30,000 yen.
日本自 1978 年以來首次調高簽證價格。單次入境簽證現需 15,000 日圓，多次入境簽證則需 30,000 日圓。
Japan needs more money because prices for everything are higher. The government will use this money to help foreign people learn Japanese and live in the country.
由於物價上漲，日本需要更多資金。政府將利用這筆資金協助外國人學習日語並在當地生活。
Conclusion
Both countries are changing their prices to pay for their work.
兩國均透過調整價格來支付其運作成本。
Vocabulary Learning
💸 Money Words
In this text, we see how to talk about costs. Use these simple patterns:
1. Cost/Price
- Example: "Visas cost 15,000 yen."
- Rule: Cost + [amount of money].
2. Paying for things
- Example: "People pay $185."
- Rule: Pay + [amount of money].
3. The 'Change' Pattern
- Example: "Japan is raising visa prices."
- Meaning: Raising → going up
Quick Vocabulary Check
- Fast service quick help
- One-time only once
- Multiple-entry many times
Vocabulary Learning
New Visa Fee Changes in the United States and Japan
美國與日本簽證費用新變動
Introduction
Starting July 1, the United States and Japan will introduce new visa fee structures and faster processing options for travelers.
從7月1日起，美國與日本將為旅客推出新的簽證費用結構及更快速的處理選項。
Main Body
The United States Department of State is launching a pilot program from July 1 to December 31 to offer faster interview scheduling for B1 and B2 visa applicants. This premium service costs an extra $750 on top of the standard $185 fee, making the total $935. Applicants must pay this non-refundable fee within five to ten minutes, or they will lose their appointment. Officials emphasized that this service is designed to reduce delays caused by strict security checks, such as social media reviews. It is expected that over 25,000 travelers will use this service annually, generating about $19.3 million in revenue.
美國國務院將於7月1日至12月31日啟動一項試行計畫，為B1及B2簽證申請者提供更快速的面試預約。這項頂級服務在標準的185美元費用之外需額外支付750美元，總計為935美元。申請者必須在五至十分鐘內支付這筆不可退款的費用，否則將失去預約。官員強調，此服務旨在減少因嚴格安全檢查（如社交媒體審查）而造成的延遲。預計每年將有超過25,000名旅客使用此服務，產生約1,930萬美元的收入。
At the same time, the Japanese government has approved its first visa fee increase since 1978. From July 1, single-entry visas will rise from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000, and multiple-entry visas will increase from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi asserted that these changes are necessary due to inflation and the falling value of the yen. These new costs affect travelers from more than 100 countries, although citizens from about 70 nations, including the U.S., remain exempt. Furthermore, the government has increased fees for residency and permanent residency applications. Japan plans to use these funds to support its record 4.13 million foreign residents and improve language programs.
與此同時，日本政府批准了自1978年以來首次的簽證費用調漲。從7月1日起，單次入境簽證將從3,000日圓調漲至15,000日圓，多次入境簽證則從6,000日圓調漲至30,000日圓。外相茂木敏充（Toshimitsu Motegi）斷言，由於通貨膨脹和日圓貶值，這些變動是必要的。新費用將影響100多個國家的旅客，儘管包括美國在內的大約70個國家的公民仍維持豁免。此外，政府也提高了居留和永久居留申請的費用。日本計劃將這些資金用於支持創紀錄的413萬名外籍居民並改善語言計畫。
Conclusion
Both countries are updating their immigration fees to cover administrative costs and improve the efficiency of their processing systems.
兩國均在更新其移民費用，以支付行政成本並提高處理系統的效率。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 Moving Beyond 'Basic' Sentences
An A2 student says: "The fees are higher because of inflation."
A B2 student says: "These changes are necessary due to inflation."
The Magic Phrase: "Due to" In the text, we see "necessary due to inflation". This is your ticket to B2. Instead of always using "because" (which is a connector), "due to" allows you to link a result directly to a cause using a noun.
How to shift your gear:
- A2 Style: I was late because it rained. Because + Subject + Verb
- B2 Style: I was late due to the rain. Due to + Noun/Noun Phrase
🧠 The "Advanced Logic" Upgrade
Look at how the text connects ideas. It doesn't just list facts; it uses Transition Signals to guide the reader.
| The Word | What it does | Why it's B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Furthermore | Adds more information | It sounds professional and structured, unlike "and" or "also." |
| Although | Shows a contrast | It allows you to put two opposing ideas in one elegant sentence. |
| Remain | Describes a state | Instead of saying "are still," using remain (e.g., remain exempt) adds academic precision. |
💡 Pro Tip: To sound more fluent, stop starting every sentence with the subject. Try starting with a contrast: "Although the fees are rising, some countries are still exempt."
Vocabulary Learning
Implementation of Revised Visa Fee Structures in the United States and Japan
美國與日本實施修訂後的簽證費用結構
Introduction
The United States and Japan are introducing new visa fee frameworks and expedited processing options effective July 1.
美國與日本將於 7 月 1 日起，推出新的簽證費用框架與快速處理選項。
Main Body
The United States Department of State is initiating a pilot program from July 1 to December 31 to offer expedited interview scheduling for B1 and B2 visa applicants. This premium service requires a $750 payment in addition to the standard $185 fee, totaling $935. Applicants who secure a slot must complete the non-refundable payment within a five-to-ten-minute window or forfeit the appointment. This measure is positioned as a mechanism to mitigate processing delays resulting from stringent vetting requirements—including social media audits and financial bonds for specific nationalities—and to accommodate demand spikes associated with major international events. Projections suggest an annual utilization by 25,705 travelers, yielding approximately $19.3 million in revenue.
美國國務院將於 7 月 1 日至 12 月 31 日啟動一項試行計畫，為 B1 及 B2 簽證申請人提供快速面試預約服務。此項高級服務除標準的 185 美元費用外，需額外支付 750 美元，總計 935 美元。申請人若取得名額，必須在 5 到 10 分鐘內完成不可退款的支付，否則將喪失預約資格。此措施被定位為一種機制，旨在緩解因嚴格審查要求（包括社交媒體審核及針對特定國籍的財務保證）而導致的處理延遲，並應對與重大國際活動相關的需求激增。預計每年將有 25,705 名旅客使用，產生約 1,930 萬美元的收入。
Concurrently, the Japanese government has authorized the first revision of its visa fee schedule since 1978. Effective July 1, single-entry visa costs will increase from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000, while multiple-entry fees will rise from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi attributed this adjustment to inflationary pressures and currency fluctuations, specifically the depreciation of the yen. These changes affect travelers from over 100 nations, including China, India, and Vietnam, while exempting citizens of approximately 70 countries, including the U.S. Furthermore, legislative amendments have raised the statutory ceilings for residency status changes and permanent residency applications to ¥100,000 and ¥300,000, respectively. The Japanese administration intends to allocate these funds toward managing a record foreign population of 4.13 million, enhancing language programs, and curbing illegal overstays, while aligning its fiscal framework with Western standards.
與此同時，日本政府授權了自 1978 年以來首次的簽證費用表修訂。自 7 月 1 日起，單次入境簽證費用將從 3,000 日圓增加至 15,000 日圓，而多次入境費用將從 6,000 日圓增加至 30,000 日圓。外務大臣茂木敏充將此次調整歸因於通貨膨脹壓力與貨幣波動，特別是日圓貶值。這些變更影響來自 100 多個國家的旅客，包括中國、印度與越南，而約 70 個國家的公民（包括美國）則獲豁免。此外，法律修正案將居留身分變更與永久居留申請的法定上限分別提高至 100,000 日圓與 300,000 日圓。日本政府打算將這些資金用於管理高達 413 萬人的紀錄性外籍人口、強化語言計畫以及遏制非法逾期逗留，同時使其財政框架與西方標準接軌。
Conclusion
Both nations are adjusting their immigration fiscal policies to address administrative costs and processing inefficiencies.
兩國均在調整其移民財政政策，以解決行政成本與處理效率低下的問題。
Vocabulary Learning
The Architecture of Nominalization & Formal Density
To transcend B2 fluency and enter the C2 stratum, one must shift from narrating actions to conceptualizing them. This text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the linguistic process of turning verbs or adjectives into nouns to create a dense, authoritative, and impersonal academic tone.
⚡ The Shift: From Action to Entity
Compare a B2-level construction with the C2-level phrasing found in the text:
- B2 (Verbal/Linear): The US is trying to reduce delays because they have to vet people strictly.
- C2 (Nominalized/Dense): *"This measure is positioned as a mechanism to mitigate processing delays resulting from stringent vetting requirements..."
In the C2 version, "reducing delays" becomes a "mechanism to mitigate processing delays." The action is no longer something someone does; it is a conceptual tool (a mechanism) designed for a specific purpose (mitigation). This allows the writer to pack more information into a single clause without losing grammatical cohesion.
🔍 Dissecting the 'High-Density' Clusters
Observe the sequence: statutory ceilings residency status changes permanent residency applications.
At the C2 level, we utilize Noun Adjuncts (nouns acting as adjectives) to create precise technical categories. Note how "statutory" (adjective) modifies "ceilings" (noun), which then governs the subsequent specific legal categories. This removes the need for clunky prepositions (e.g., "ceilings that are set by statute for the changing of residency status"), resulting in a streamlined, professional cadence.
🎓 Application: The 'C2 Pivot'
To replicate this, stop using verbs to describe processes. Instead, convert the core action into a noun and pair it with a high-level collocation:
| Instead of... (B2) | Try... (C2) |
|---|---|
| The yen is losing value. | The depreciation of the yen. |
| They want to stop people from staying illegally. | Curbing illegal overstays. |
| They are changing how they handle money. | Aligning its fiscal framework. |
The C2 Axiom: The more you can transform events into objects (nouns), the more academic and authoritative your prose becomes.