A new $250 visa integrity fee will soon apply to nonimmigrant visa applicants in the US, following a law enacted on July 4. This fee is mandated for anyone issued a nonimmigrant visa. Officials have not confirmed when the fee collection will start, but the revenue will go to the US Treasury. Travel industry experts fear this increase will discourage international visitation, which has already declined in 2025. Major events like the World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in 2028 are approaching, adding urgency to the concern around decreasing tourist numbers.
Raising fees on lawful international visitors amounts to a self-imposed tariff on one of our nation's largest exports: international travel spending. These fees are not reinvested in improving the travel experience and do nothing but discourage visitation at a time when foreign travelers are already concerned about the welcome experience and high prices.
Travel industry experts are worried that the new fee could potentially further curtail US tourist numbers, which have already dipped in 2025.
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