The United States will introduce a new $250 “visa integrity fee” starting October 1, 2025, for visitors from countries outside the Visa Waiver Program, including India, China, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. With this addition, the cost of a U.S. visitor visa will rise to $442, making it one of the most expensive visa fees in the world.
This move comes as international travel to the U.S. is already slowing. In July, inbound visits fell by more than 3% compared to the previous year, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline. Projections suggest that spending from international visitors could fall below $169 billion in 2025, down from $181 billion in 2024.
The impact is expected to be significant in Latin America. Travel from Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil had recently shown strong growth, but experts warn that the new fee could reverse those gains. Meanwhile, travel from India is already down, largely due to a drop in student visas, and arrivals from China remain far below pre-pandemic levels.
Industry leaders have voiced concern that the higher cost could further discourage global travelers and risk retaliatory measures from other countries. Travel organizations stress that additional financial burdens reduce competitiveness and make the U.S. less attractive compared to other destinations.
The decision has sparked debate over whether the fee will secure U.S. borders effectively or simply add new hurdles to tourism and business travel at a time when the industry is struggling to recover.
