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SomewhereInTheMiddle

(547 posts)
Tue Jul 22, 2025, 06:24 AM Yesterday

Visiting the US will soon require a $250 'visa integrity fee'

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: CNN

The United States will require international visitors to pay a new “visa integrity fee” of at least $250, added to existing visa application costs, according to a provision in the Trump administration’s recently enacted domestic policy bill.

The fee will apply to all visitors who are required to obtain nonimmigrant visas to enter the United States. This includes many leisure and business travelers, international students and other temporary visitors. In fiscal year 2024, the US issued nearly 11 million nonimmigrant visas, according to State Department figures.

Tourists and business travelers from countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program, including Australia and many European countries, aren’t required to obtain visas for stays of 90 days or less.

Payment will be required at the time visas are issued, and there will be no fee waivers. Travelers who comply with their visa conditions can have their fees reimbursed after the trip is over, according to the provision.

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/travel/visa-integrity-fee-usa-international-travelers



So, if people coming from countries where visas [much of Europe, Australia, Israel, Japan, Qatar, etc] are not required do not pay the fee then it will be levied on people from countries the Administration does not necessarily want to encourage - Africa, South America/Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia, etc.

Only white tourists, and those from select few other countries, are welcome with open arms. The Visa Waiver program already says that. This fee just puts a price on the US's disapproval of people from the rest of the world.
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Visiting the US will soon require a $250 'visa integrity fee' (Original Post) SomewhereInTheMiddle Yesterday OP
It's pretty much in line SickOfTheOnePct Yesterday #1
not good just cause other countries do it Vthestate Yesterday #2
Do you think that the UK and EU countries... SickOfTheOnePct Yesterday #4
Integrity? Will regime have integrity to actually refund? Or will it delay refunds & deny many on petty issues? . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Yesterday #3
What a stupid idea. As if $250 is going to dissuade a criminal intending to abuse the visa. Bernardo de La Paz Yesterday #5
Dupe progree Yesterday #6
AFTER a review by forum hosts LOCKING Omaha Steve Yesterday #7

SickOfTheOnePct

(8,007 posts)
1. It's pretty much in line
Tue Jul 22, 2025, 06:34 AM
Yesterday

with what other countries charge, as well as which countries are charged. And this does something I'm not aware of other countries doing, which is refunding the fee if they leave when the visa expires.

I don't see a problem with it.

Vthestate

(24 posts)
2. not good just cause other countries do it
Tue Jul 22, 2025, 06:57 AM
Yesterday

I do not travel due to being blue collar and never confident that I can make if back.....now back seems kinda like a trajectory toward a gulag. As other dream bits the dust, some folks say....I have not problem with it....you don't need to know why or how or who made the decision...other countries finance racism (terror) why not the US state department . + great for tourism!

SickOfTheOnePct

(8,007 posts)
4. Do you think that the UK and EU countries...
Tue Jul 22, 2025, 07:51 AM
Yesterday

...are financing terrorism with their visa fees?

Bernardo de La Paz

(57,199 posts)
3. Integrity? Will regime have integrity to actually refund? Or will it delay refunds & deny many on petty issues? . . nt
Tue Jul 22, 2025, 07:29 AM
Yesterday

Bernardo de La Paz

(57,199 posts)
5. What a stupid idea. As if $250 is going to dissuade a criminal intending to abuse the visa.
Tue Jul 22, 2025, 07:51 AM
Yesterday

It will just further depress tourism and investment in the USA. Which are already down. It will even discourage tourism from places that don't need visas due to the complications visitors might fear, not knowing if it applies or not. Or feeling it is not worth the bother figuring it out plus the ICE risk.

Omaha Steve

(106,380 posts)
7. AFTER a review by forum hosts LOCKING
Tue Jul 22, 2025, 08:57 AM
Yesterday

DUPE of https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143498085 also OVER 12 HOURS OLD when posted: Updated 17 hr ago

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