US To Impose $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” On Visitors Starting Oct.1

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC — The Trump administration is set to roll out a new “visa integrity fee” for international visitors beginning October 1, part of a broader push to tighten entry rules and increase costs for non-immigrant travelers.

The measure, enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, requires foreign nationals to pay a $250 charge when visas are issued. According to the U.S. Travel Association, the move will hit countries such as Mexico, China, and Brazil the hardest, raising the total cost of obtaining a U.S. visa for non–visa waiver nations to nearly $442.

International visitor arrivals to the U.S. have already shown signs of slowing. Data from the International Inbound Travel Association indicates that overseas visits fell 3.1% in July compared to the same month last year.

Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, and Brazil made up the largest sources of inbound travelers in May.

Industry analysts warn the timing could prove challenging, with the United States preparing to host the Olympics and FIFA World Cup matches in the coming years. A recent World Travel & Tourism Council report projected international visitor spending in the U.S. to drop to just under $169 billion in 2025, down from $181 billion in 2024.

Fox News noted that the visa fee is part of a broader global trend. Countries around the world have been adding entry surcharges and tightening screenings, both to generate revenue from tourism and to clamp down on abuses of visa systems.