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2d ago

U.S. Sets $250 ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ for Non‑Waiver Visitors Starting Oct. 1

Travel leaders warn the surcharge will sap demand during a year of declining arrivals.

Tourists and pedestrians walk down Pell Street in the Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, U.S., April 14, 2025. REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo
The State Department seal is seen on the briefing room lectern ahead of a briefing by State Department spokesperson Ned Price at the State Department in Washington, Monday, Janu 31, 2022.
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Overview

  • The fee applies to non-immigrant visa applicants from non–visa waiver countries such as Mexico, Argentina, India, Brazil and China, lifting typical visa costs to roughly $440–$442, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
  • Officials have described the charge as a deposit that could be reimbursed to compliant travelers, but the government has not finalized how refunds will be processed.
  • The move follows related steps including a DHS pilot launched on August 20 requiring refundable bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas, and a proposal to shorten certain visa durations.
  • Overseas arrivals to the United States fell 3.1% year over year in July to 19.2 million, and the d Travel & TourTourism Council projects international visitor spending to drop to just under $169 billion in 2025 from $181 billion in 2024.
  • Analysts expect the biggest impact on Central and South American source markets that had been growing this year, while travel agents also cite concerns about potential reciprocal fees abroad.