US Imposes $250 Visa Fee on Millions of Foreign Visitors

President Donald Trump has introduced a new $250 "visa integrity fee" on all foreign visitors entering the United States on nonimmigrant visas, including tourists, business travelers, students, and temporary workers, effective from October 1, 2024. This fee is intended to fund visa enforcement and border security measures and to deter visa overstays by providing a financial incentive for compliance; visitors who obey visa rules may be eligible for a refund. The fee will be added on top of existing visa application costs and increased fees for related forms, such as the I-94 travel document and ESTA authorization for visa waiver travelers. While most travelers from countries under the Visa Waiver Program, such as Canada, Europe, Australia, Israel, and Japan, are exempt from the fee, millions from countries including Mexico, Brazil, India, and China will be impacted, raising concerns about the potential chilling effect on international tourism and major events like the 2026 World Cup. The fee's implementation details, refund mechanisms, and adjustments for inflation remain somewhat unclear, drawing criticism from travel industry representatives who warn it acts as a self-imposed tariff that could discourage visitors. This policy is part of President Trump's broader "Big Beautiful Bill" aimed at strengthening immigration controls and funding enforcement resources.