Representational image (Picture credit: iStock)
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The United States has announced a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for travellers from non-visa waiver countries, raising the total visa cost to $442. The fee will take effect on 1 October 2025, according to the US government.
Overseas travel to America dropped 3.1% in July 2025 compared to the same month last year, with only 19.2 million visitors arriving. This was the fifth month of decline in 2025, going against earlier expectations that international arrivals would finally cross pre-pandemic levels of 79.4 million.
Countries Affected
The new visa fee, which will begin on October 1, will apply to travellers from countries that are not part of the US visa waiver program. This includes nations like Mexico, Argentina, India, Brazil and China.
With the extra charge, the total cost of a US visa will rise to $442, making it one of the most expensive visitor visa fees in the world, according to the US Travel Association.
What Experts Say
Industry experts warn that the additional charge could discourage more people from visiting the US, as per Reuters report. “Any friction we add to the traveler experience is going to cut travel volumes by some amount,” said Gabe Rizzi, president of global travel company Altour. He added that as the summer season ends, the issue will become more pressing for travel budgets.
The impact is also being seen in spending. The World Travel And Tourism Council expects international visitor spending in the US to fall to $169 billion in 2025, down from $181 billion in 2024.
Trump’s administration has tightened immigration rules, reduced foreign aid and introduced new tariffs. In early August, the government also said it could require bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a one-year pilot program. On Wednesday, it proposed new regulations to shorten the duration of visas for students, cultural exchange visitors and journalists.
The Oxford Economics consultancy Tourism Economics had predicted a 10% rise in overseas travel to the US in 2025. Instead, the year is now on track to see a 3% fall. “We see it as a sustained setback, and we anticipate much of it is in place throughout the administration,” said Aran Ryan, director of industry studies at the firm.
Regional Impact
The new visa fee is expected to hit hardest in Central and South American countries, which have been among the few regions showing growth this year. Travel from Mexico rose nearly 14% by May 2025, arrivals from Argentina increased 20%, and from Brazil 4.6%. Travel from Central America grew 3% and South America 0.7%, compared with a decline of 2.3% from Western Europe.
Meanwhile, China continues to see weak recovery. Arrivals in July were still 53% below 2019 levels. Travel from India has also slowed, with visits down 2.4% so far in 2025, including a steep 18% drop in student numbers.
For some travellers, however, the higher fees are being treated as just another cost in an already expensive journey. “The US has always been selective about its visitors. If your financial standing isn’t up to par, getting a visa is tough anyway,” said Su Shu, founder of Chinese travel company Moment Travel in Chengdu.