The Trump administration will move forward with a new $250 “visa integrity fee” on non-immigrant travelers beginning October 1, a measure included in the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress and signed into law earlier this year.
The additional charge will be applied when visas are issued. Among those most affected would be travellers from non-visa waiver countries such as Mexico, China, Brazil, India, and Argentina, as the total visa cost would be raised to $442, according to the US Travel Association.
Industry leaders have speculated that the policy could have an impact on travel demand into the US. Gabe Rizzi, president of the travel management company Altour, told Reuters, “Any friction we add to the traveler experience is going to cut travel volumes by some amount.”
“As the summer ends this will become a more pressing issue, and we’ll have to factor the fees into travel budgets and documentation,” he added.
The World Travel & Tourism Council projects international visitor spending in the US will fall to below $169 billion this year, down from $181 billion in 2024. Overseas arrivals to the US also dropped 3.1 percent in July compared with the same month last year, according to Reuters.
The new fee comes as the administration pursues a series of visa and immigration-related measures. In August, the government proposed a pilot program requiring bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas to discourage overstays. Officials have also proposed shortening visa durations for students, cultural exchange visitors, and media members.
