Traveling to the United States is set to become more expensive.
The Trump administration has announced a new visa integrity fee, leading to a sudden rise in visa applications from people who want to apply before the new fee starts.
The hike will be effective from October 1, and because of this, the number of applications has doubled.
New Bill and Fee Details
On July 4, Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”.
This law introduces a $250 (₹21,539) visa integrity fee for non-immigrant visas.
Once the rule comes into effect on October 1, the cost of a US visa for Indian citizens will be about $435 (₹36,700).
Tour and travel operator Dr. Chhavi Singhal said people are rushing to apply before the hike.
Earlier, around 300 visa applications were received daily across the state, but now the number has crossed 900 per day.
Long Waiting Period for Appointments
After applying, travelers must complete biometric verification and an interview at US embassies in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Kolkata.
Before COVID-19: Appointments were scheduled within five days.
Now: The waiting time has stretched to 370–420 days.
