Starting October 1, 2025, the U.S. will charge a new $250 “visa integrity fee” to travelers from countries that are not part of the U.S.
Visa Waiver Program, including India, China, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil.
This announcement has caused concern in the global travel industry, which is already struggling under stricter immigration policies.
According to Reuters, U.S. inbound travel fell 3.1% year-on-year in July 2025, with just 19.2 million visitors, marking the fifth monthly decline this year. Hopes of crossing pre-pandemic visitor levels of 79.4 million now seem unlikely.
U.S. Visa Now Among the World’s Most Expensive
With the new fee, the total cost of a U.S. visa will rise to $442, making it one of the most expensive visitor visas globally, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
This new charge comes on top of other recent restrictions:
- Shortened visa durations for students, journalists, and cultural visitors
- A pilot program requiring bonds of up to $15,000 for certain business and tourist applicants
Central & South America Hit the Hardest
The fee is expected to hurt countries in Central and South America the most, even though they showed strong travel growth earlier this year:
- Mexico: Up 14% by May 2025
- Argentina: Up 20%
- Brazil: Up 4.6%
Central America as a whole grew 3%, and South America saw a 0.7% increase, compared to a 2.3% decline in travel from Western Europe.
Asia Faces Ongoing Travel Challenges
Asia’s recovery remains weak, especially in China and India:
- Chinese visitor numbers are still 53% below 2019 levels
- Indian arrivals fell 2.4%, driven by an 18% drop in student visas, a key sector in U.S.-India relations
A Blow to U.S. Tourism
Industry experts warn that these rising visa costs could push travelers to choose other destinations like Europe, Canada, or Southeast Asia, where policies are more welcoming.
Without changes, the U.S. risks losing tourists—and billions in tourism revenue—as other countries become more competitive global travel hubs.
