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Economic Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
US to triple visa cost for Indians in 2026; apply now to avoid ₹20,000 hike
Agencies Starting 2026, Indians planning to travel to the United States will have to pay a steep increase in visa fees. A new $250 non-refundable Visa Integrity Fee will apply to all visitor, student, and work visa categories, including the widely used B-1/B-2 tourist visa. The total cost will jump from $185 to nearly $472 (₹40,000).The hike stems from a new law signed by US President Joe Biden on July 4 as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement and visa compliance. What will it cost from 2026? Visa applicants from India will have to pay the following charges from January 1, 2026: $185 – Standard visa application fee (unchanged) – Standard visa application fee (unchanged) $250 – Visa Integrity Fee (new) – Visa Integrity Fee (new) $24 – I-94 arrival/departure form fee – I-94 arrival/departure form fee $13–$30 – Additional costs (like ESTA or EVUS), depending on category Together, the typical B-1/B-2 visa cost will rise from $185 to $472, nearly 2.5 times the present amount. Why is the US adding the Integrity Fee? The Visa Integrity Fee is a mandatory deposit to ensure visitors follow the rules of their visa — including timely departure, no overstay, and no illegal work. It is non-waivable and non-refundable if the traveller violates any rule. US lawmakers have positioned it as a safeguard to maintain trust in the visa system. Funds collected from unrefunded fees will go into the US Treasury. How does this affect Indians? The change will hit Indian travellers the most, as India is one of the largest sources of tourists, students, and tech workers for the US. Visa categories impacted include: B-1/B-2 – Tourist and business visitors – Tourist and business visitors F-1 – Students – Students H-1B – Skilled professionals – Skilled professionals J-1 – Exchange visitors IT companies that sponsor large numbers of H-1B visas may also see rising costs. Apply in 2025 to save up to ₹20,000 Indians who apply for a US visa before December 31, 2025, will avoid the $250 Integrity Fee. The current application fee of $185 (~₹15,600) will continue until the end of 2025. Those who are already planning travel in 2026 are advised to pre-schedule visa appointments and pay the fee in 2025, even if their journey begins later. The fee is locked in at the time of application payment, not travel date. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Why this one from 'Dirty Dozen', now in Vedanta fold, is again in a mess The deluge that's cooling oil prices despite the Iran conflict Can Indian IT protect its high valuation as AI takes centre stage? Engine fuel switches or something else? One month on, still no word on what crashed AI 171 As GenAI puts traditional BPO on life support, survival demands a makeover Stock Radar: ITC Hotels hits fresh record high in July – time to buy or book profits? Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus These large- and mid-cap stocks can give more than 24% return in 1 year, according to analysts Suited for the long term, even with headwinds: 8 stocks from healthcare & pharma sectors with upside potential of up to 39%
The Hill
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Trump order calls for national park fee hikes for some: What to know
(NEXSTAR) — Just weeks after the Department of the Interior's budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 suggested a surcharge for some national park visitors, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling for just that. The order, signed Thursday, directs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to develop a 'strategy' to boost revenue and improve recreational experiences at national parks, The Hill reported last week. As part of that, entrance fees and the cost for a recreation pass are intended to rise for 'nonresidents.' International visitors do not currently pay more to visit the national parks than U.S. residents. The White House said the price hikes will make national parks more affordable for American families. Here's what we know about Trump's order and the Interior Department's budget proposal. The Department of the Interior's budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 said a surcharge will help bring in more than $90 million, but didn't outline how. 'There could be a billion-dollar revenue opportunity without discouraging visitors,' Burgum said during a House Committee on Natural Resources oversight hearing in June. He didn't expand on how the extra fee could bring in more than $90 million, and the Department did not respond to Nexstar's request for additional information last month. An analysis by SFGate, using an estimate that 14.6 million international visitors went to U.S. national parks last year, determined that if the parks saw the same number of visitors in 2026, the necessary surcharge to reach the aforementioned budget goal would be about $6 a person. 'I think we're way undercharging, as a nation, for international visitors,' Burgum said during June's oversight hearing. Burgum pointed to other international venues where Americans and other non-resident tourists are charged more than locals, like the Galapagos Islands. There, non-Ecuadorian adults must pay a $200 entrance fee, in cash, to the Galapagos National Park. The entrance fee for children is $100. Meanwhile, Ecuadorian citizens over the age of 12 pay $30 while the fee for younger citizens is $12. Citizens also have discounted or free admission to popular tourist attractions around the world. College-aged residents of the European Union have free access to several museums within member countries, including the Louvre and The Orsay Museum in Paris. Tourists pay over 20 times more to visit the Taj Mahal than local residents do. Hawaii will begin charging a 'Green Fee' tourist tax next year in order to generate funds for mitigating future environmental challenges the state expects to face. Chicago's Field Museum offers discounted admission to city residents. Residents of the state of New York are able to pay whatever they prefer to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art, though they are required to pay at least one penny per ticket. Even Disney World and Disneyland offer deals for those who live near their parks. Regarding international visitors at national parks, Trump's order calls for increased fees for foreign visitors, as well as a price hike for the America the Beautiful Pass and 'any site-specific agency or regional multi-entity passes' that are sold to foreign visitors. The America the Beautiful Pass is currently available at various price points and provides free entrance into national parks and federal recreational lands. An annual pass, available to 'everyone,' is $80. A senior annual pass is $20, while a senior lifetime pass is $80. Others may qualify for a free annual or lifetime pass. The price hikes, according to Trump's order, apply only to those parks that charge entrance or recreation pass fees. Currently, only 106 of the 475 sites that are managed by the National Park Service charge an entrance fee. Neither Trump's executive order nor the Interior Department's budget outlined how much entrance and pass fees could rise. Increased revenue from nonresident visitors would then be used to 'improve the infrastructure of, or otherwise enhance enjoyment of or access to, America's Federal recreational areas.' While the foreign visitor fees could bring in more revenue for the parks, the Trump administration has also proposed cutting the National Park Service's staffing budgets and service operations by 30 percent, The Hill reports. Meanwhile, the Interior Department's budget proposal is requesting $2 billion for the national parks, down more than $1 billion from the current budget. It would be the largest cut in NPS history, according to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). Nonetheless, Trump's order calls for efforts to increase visitor capacity at America's national parks, invest in infrastructure at the sites, and improve park access to American families by ensuring they 'receive priority access in any permitting or reservation systems.' The National Park Service had its biggest year of attendance in 2024, with more than two dozen sites seeing record visitation.
Sunday World
27-06-2025
- Sunday World
Plumber is fined and loses licence for three years after drink drive conviction
Michael Fee, Blackstaff, Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan, contested the charge which arose after he was stopped by Gardaí at Castletown Road, Dundalk, in the early hours of April 29, 2024. A 41-year-old plumber has been fined €500 and disqualified from driving for three years after being convicted of drink driving. Michael Fee, Blackstaff, Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan, contested the charge which arose after he was stopped by Gardaí at Castletown Road, Dundalk, in the early hours of April 29, 2024. Gda Leah Shipley gave evidence that at 1.43am, while observer in a Garda vehicle, she spotted a white Citroen Berlingo van driving 'unusually slowly' and swerving across the centre white line on Castletown Road. This vehicle was indicated to pull over and it did. A man got out and stumbled before going onto the footpath. She approached. There was a smell of drink from him and his speech was slurred. He handed her a full Irish driving licence. Gda Shipley said that she formed her opinion (than an offence had been committed) and at 1.47am arrested Mr Fee on suspicion of drink driving. He subsequently provided an over the limit reading of 90mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The defendant refused to sign the Section 13 statements (Evidenzer machine printouts), nor did he take a copy. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - June 27th Cross-examined by barrister Martin Dully, instructed by solicitor Frank McDonnell, Gda Shipley said another garda jeep, containing two Gardaí, was in front of them and it brought the accused to a stop after the blue lights and siren were activated. She was first to speak with Mr Fee. The other guards exited their vehicle at the same time. It was not possible that a colleague beat her to it. Mr Dully put it to the witness was it possible she was the 'nominated officer to get the collar' to which Gda Shipley replied, 'Absolutely not'. She couldn't recall her colleagues speaking to the driver. She did explain to the defendant why he was stopped. She didn't question him about alcohol consumption. Applying for a dismissal, Mr Dully said that in Gda Shipley's direct evidence there was no reference to the fact the other garda vehicle was responsible for pulling Mr Fee over. There was 'a less than frank' explanation to what occurred. It was extremely unlikely that there was no interaction between other Gardaí and Mr Fee. Counsel submitted there was 'some troubling evidence'. He asked could the court accept Gda Shipley's account as true and complete? Inspector Martina Gallagher responded that it was unfair to say Gda Shipley had not told the truth. Judge Nicola Andrews said that Mr Dully was doing his job and that she would 'assess that'. The judge said that she was satisfied the evidence of detection and arrest was in order. Mr Fee did not give evidence. The court heard of one previous conviction for drink driving in 2005. Mr Dully said that was effectively 20 years ago. An additional mandatory disqualification only applied within the preceding period of four years. The defendant was a plumber, dependent on his ability to drive. He will almost certainly lose his job. He had instructed to apologise. Judge Andrews said that if he came into court again and got 'any class' of a Road Traffic conviction, 'the consequences will be dire'. Bail to appeal was set at a €500 cash bond. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
27-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Monaghan plumber loses licence for three years after drink drive conviction
Michael Fee, Blackstaff, Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan, contested the charge which arose after he was stopped by Gardaí at Castletown Road, Dundalk, in the early hours of April 29, 2024. Gda Leah Shipley gave evidence that at 1.43am, while observer in a Garda vehicle, she spotted a white Citroen Berlingo van driving 'unusually slowly' and swerving across the centre white line on Castletown Road. This vehicle was indicated to pull over and it did. A man got out and stumbled before going onto the footpath. She approached. There was a smell of drink from him and his speech was slurred. He handed her a full Irish driving licence. Gda Shipley said that she formed her opinion (than an offence had been committed) and at 1.47am arrested Mr Fee on suspicion of drink driving. He subsequently provided an over the limit reading of 90mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The defendant refused to sign the Section 13 statements (Evidenzer machine printouts), nor did he take a copy. Cross-examined by barrister Martin Dully, instructed by solicitor Frank McDonnell, Gda Shipley said another garda jeep, containing two Gardaí, was in front of them and it brought the accused to a stop after the blue lights and siren were activated. She was first to speak with Mr Fee. The other guards exited their vehicle at the same time. It was not possible that a colleague beat her to it. Mr Dully put it to the witness was it possible she was the 'nominated officer to get the collar' to which Gda Shipley replied, 'Absolutely not'. She couldn't recall her colleagues speaking to the driver. ADVERTISEMENT She did explain to the defendant why he was stopped. She didn't question him about alcohol consumption. Applying for a dismissal, Mr Dully said that in Gda Shipley's direct evidence there was no reference to the fact the other garda vehicle was responsible for pulling Mr Fee over. There was 'a less than frank' explanation to what occurred. It was extremely unlikely that there was no interaction between other Gardaí and Mr Fee. Counsel submitted there was 'some troubling evidence'. He asked could the court accept Gda Shipley's account as true and complete? Inspector Martina Gallagher responded that it was unfair to say Gda Shipley had not told the truth. Judge Nicola Andrews said that Mr Dully was doing his job and that she would 'assess that'. The judge said that she was satisfied the evidence of detection and arrest was in order. Mr Fee did not give evidence. The court heard of one previous conviction for drink driving in 2005. Mr Dully said that was effectively 20 years ago. An additional mandatory disqualification only applied within the preceding period of four years. The defendant was a plumber, dependent on his ability to drive. He will almost certainly lose his job. He had instructed to apologise. Judge Andrews said that if he came into court again and got 'any class' of a Road Traffic conviction, 'the consequences will be dire'. Bail to appeal was set at a €500 cash bond. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourists Will Be Charged $2.25 Per Day to Surf in Hawaii
In a landmark piece of legislation, Hawaii has become the first state to enact a 'green fee' – or a tax on tourists, aimed at fighting future climatological disasters – set to go into effect January 1st, 2026. The tax, specifically, will apply to travelers staying in hotels, short-term rental homes, and cruise ships. And how much exactly? The transient accommodations tax (TAT) will be increased by 0.75 percent – translation: a nightly rate of $300 in a hotel will have an extra $2.25 per night added to the bill. Senate Bill 1396 was signed by Hawaii Governor Josh Green earlier this week, enacting what they are calling the 'Green Fee,' the first-of-its-kind for any state, going into effect next year. Governor Green said via press release: 'Today Hawaiʻi ushers in the first Green Fee in the nation. Once again, Hawaiʻi is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources, recognizing their fundamental role in sustaining the ecological, cultural and economic health of Hawaiʻi. As an island chain, Hawaiʻi cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action. We must build resiliency now, and the Green Fee will provide the necessary financing to ensure resources are available for our future.'Of course, Hawaii is one of the world's most trafficked hubs for tourism. And all those people take a toll on the historic, and culturally significant island chain. So, this tax is an attempt to get ahead of future environmental impacts the islands may experience – a reserve, of sorts, for future disasters. 'I mahalo the tourism industry for stepping up and collaborating on this initiative, which will preserve Hawaiʻi for kamaʻāina and visitors alike,' continued Governor Green. 'The fee will restore and remediate our beaches and shorelines and harden infrastructure critical to the health and safety of all who call Hawaiʻi home, whether for a few days or a lifetime.' If you're traveling to Hawaii, and you're staying in a hotel or short-term vacation rental, starting in 2026, it's gonna cost you an extra $2.25 per day to surf. But, instead of an extra fee, consider it an investment in the natural beauty and the future prosperity of this sacred Will Be Charged $2.25 Per Day to Surf in Hawaii first appeared on Surfer on May 30, 2025
