Planning a US trip? Donald Trump's new policy may add extra Rs 20,000 to your visa cost - Here's all you need to know
The fee, part of a broader domestic policy law aimed at tightening immigration controls, has triggered alarm within the global travel and tourism industry.
What is the fee and who will have to pay it?
The new charge, called a 'visa integrity fee,' applies to anyone applying for a non-immigrant visa to the US, The New York Times reported.
This includes tourists, students, business travelers, temporary workers, and medical visitors.
The $250 fee is in addition to the existing $185 non-immigrant visa application cost, bringing the total to $435 for affected applicants.
In 2024 alone, more than 11 million people were issued non-immigrant visas, according to US State Department data.
Who will have to pay the fee?
The new fee will affect travellers from countries such as India, Mexico, Brazil, and China, all of which are outside the US visa waiver program.
Anyone applying for a non-immigrant visa, such as for tourism, business, work, or study, will be required to pay the fee.
However, not all travellers will be impacted.
Who won't have to pay the fee?
Travelers from visa waiver countries, which include most of Europe, as well as Australia, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Chile, and Qatar are exempted from the new charge.
Most Canadian visitors are also not affected by the fee.
Will the travellers get a refund?
Possibly—but there is still confusion around whether the new fee can be refunded. Officials say it may be refundable, but the process remains unclear.
Travelers may be eligible for reimbursement after their trip, provided they comply fully with the terms of their visa.
However, the law does not currently spell out how such refunds would be processed or when travelers can expect to receive them.
How will it affect tourism?
The tourism industry is voicing concern that the new fee could discourage international visitors. While the broader law includes provisions to improve immigration systems and travel infrastructure, many industry leaders believe the added costs will act as a barrier.
Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the US Travel Association, welcomed the law's aims to improve security and infrastructure but called the new visa fees 'foolish,' warning they could hurt international tourism to the US.
Parisa Karaahmet, a partner at immigration law firm Fragomen, said the lack of clear information on how the refund system will work may deter travelers.
'This may be especially true given the limited information currently available on how and when these funds might be refunded upon departure from the US,' she said in an email to the New York Times.
Are there other fee increases?
Yes, several other travel-related fees are also going up:
The I-94 form fee, which is used to record arrivals and departures will rise from $6 to $24.
The Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) fee, required for some Chinese nationals—will jump from $8 to at least $30.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee—used by travelers from visa-waiver countries, will increase from $21 to $40.
The new law also allows these fees to rise annually with inflation, further increasing the financial burden on international travelers in the future.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the US , Canada, and Mexico on the horizon, the timing of these changes is causing added concern, especially among global football fans and tour operators.
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