Travelers to America now need to pay a new $250 U.S. “visa integrity fee,” according to the administration of President Donald Trump.
The fee applies to all visitors who need non-immigrant visas to enter the U.S. that cannot be waived.
Details about the new requirement are limited, which has resulted in some confusion at the U.S. border, according to media reports.
The fee is currently at least $250 U.S. However, the Secretary of Homeland Security can raise the fee at any time.
The “integrity fee” is being applied to all visitors to America who need non-immigrant visas, including tourists, business travelers, and international students.
The new fee is being applied on top of other fees and charges to enter the U.S., including regular visa costs.
The Trump administration has said that visitors to the U.S. can apply to get reimbursed for the new $250 U.S. entry fee, though details on the reimbursement process haven’t been released.
The new integrity fee for visitors to the U.S. was included in President Trump’s recently passed tax and spending legislation.
The new U.S. entry fee is not likely to apply to Canadian citizens, who do not need a visa to enter America for visits of less than 180 days for tourism or business activities.
Still, recent data shows that visits to the U.S. by neighbouring Canadians has dropped sharply since President Trump returned to the White House in January of this year.
In June, trips to the U.S. by Canadians were down 22% by air and 33% by automobile from the same month in 2024, according to border and customs data.
