 |
American citizens are concerned that strict conditions could be imposed on them abroad as well. (Photo: AFP) |
The United States has imposed a $250 "visa integrity fee" on citizens of all countries that do not fall into the visa exemption category. The new fee goes into effect on October 1.
The British news agency Reuters reported on Saturday that the decision could put further pressure on America's already struggling travel industry. According to the US government, foreign tourist arrivals fell 3.1 percent in July to 19.2 million.
This is the fifth month this year that tourist arrivals have seen a decline.
Experts say that tourist arrivals were expected to exceed the pre-pandemic target of 79.4 million in 2025, but current trends are the opposite.
The new fee will bring the total cost of obtaining a visitor visa to the US to $442, one of the highest visa fees in the world. The fee will affect citizens of countries that are not eligible for visa waivers, including India, China, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.
 |
| “The US has always been careful in choosing its guests,"said Su Shu, founder of Chinese firm Movement Travel. (File photo: AFP) |
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, international tourist spending in the United States is expected to fall to $169 billion in 2025, from $181 billion in 2024.
The Trump administration has also recently proposed limiting the length of visas for students, cultural exchange participants, and media professionals.
In addition, a bond requirement of up to $15,000 has been imposed on some tourist and business visas to limit overstays.
On the other hand, the number of tourists coming to the United States from Central and South America has increased this year, which is likely to be affected by the new fee.
 |
| Some tourist and business visas also require a security deposit of up to $15,000 (File photo: AFP) |
Travel from Mexico rose 14 percent in May, from Argentina by 20 percent and from Brazil by 4.6 percent. There was a decline in the number of tourists from China and India.
Experts say other countries may also take countermeasures due to the strict US visa policy, which could affect global travel trends.
“The US has always been careful in choosing its guests,” said Su Shu, founder of the Chinese firm Movement Travel in Chengdu.
If your financial situation does not meet the criteria, it is already difficult to get a visa.
 |
| The fee will affect citizens of countries that do not fall into the visa exemption category (File photo: AFP) |
James Kitchen, a travel agent and owner of a company called 'Seas to Day and Travel', said: "When entry fees for foreign tourists increase, American citizens are concerned that they could also be subject to strict conditions abroad."
He said passengers have expressed concerns about possible switching fees that will be levied in the coming months.
0 Comments