Visiting the US just got more expensive for many travellers as the country is set to add a new “visa integrity fee.”
Federal lawmakers approved the new fee as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on 4 July, reports CNBC Traveler. Under the new provision, anyone applying for a non-immigrant visa in any category that requires issuance for entry into the US should expect to pay a fee of at least US$250.
Travellers from the 42 countries party to the US visa waiver programme will not be subject to the levy, largely benefiting European countries, as well as a handful of countries in the Middle East, Asia, Oceania and South America. Some travellers from Canada and Bermuda will also be exempt.
Set at a minimum of US$250 for the current fiscal year, ending 30 September, the provision allows for changes by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary and will be adjusted for inflation annually. The fee is not yet set up to be collected, however, a DHS spokesperson telling CNBC that it “requires cross-agency coordination before implementation.”
[See more: Two more countries issue warnings over US travel]
The new impost is purportedly part of an effort to reduce visa overstays, a long-standing issue in the US, where government data shows hundreds of thousands remain past their authorised period.
As such, if travellers subject to the charge comply with visa restrictions and depart the US no more than five days after their visa expires – or legally change their status in a timely manner – then a refund should be available. However, it is unclear how reimbursements will work, and immigration lawyers warn they could involve months of paperwork, delays or even denials.
Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of US Travel Association, panned the “foolish new fees” in a statement issued after the bill’s passing. “Raising fees on lawful international visitors amounts to a self-imposed tariff,” Freeman said, arguing that they “do nothing but discourage visitation at a time when foreign travellers are already concerned about the welcome experience and high prices.”
His attention to travellers’ concerns is warranted. Last year, Tourism Economics forecast a 9 percent increase in international inbound travel in 2025, equating to around US$16.3 billion in revenue. The division of Oxford Economics has since revised its baseline forecast to an 8.2 percent decline, with a loss of US$8.3 billion in revenue. A World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) study published last month is even worse, finding the US is on track to lose US$12.5 billion.
