The United States has announced a new $250 “visa integrity fee”, causing concern across the global travel industry. Many experts worry that this new charge could further reduce international visitors, especially as US arrivals have already been declining.

According to US government data reported by Reuters, overseas travel to the US fell 3.1% in July 2025, with only 19.2 million visitors recorded. This marks the fifth monthly drop this year, disrupting hopes that travel would rebound above pre-pandemic levels of 79.4 million annual visitors.

The new fee, effective October 1, will apply to travelers from countries not in the visa waiver program, including Mexico, Argentina, India, Brazil, and China. Once added, the total cost of a visa will rise to $442, among the highest in the world, according to the US Travel Association.

The visa integrity fee is part of a series of recent measures. Earlier this month, US officials proposed shorter visa durations for students, cultural exchange participants, and foreign media. In August, a pilot program also introduced bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas to prevent overstays.

Regions like Central and South America, where US travel had been growing, are expected to feel the impact most. Travel from Mexico rose nearly 14%, Argentina 20%, and Brazil 4.6% earlier this year. Overall, Central American arrivals grew 3% and South American arrivals 0.7%, while travel from Western Europe fell 2.3%.

In Asia, recovery is slower. Chinese arrivals in July remained 53% below 2019 levels, and travel from India dropped 2.4%, largely due to an 18% fall in student visas.

Experts warn the new fee could discourage travelers. Gabe Rizzi, President of Altour, told Reuters,

"Any friction we add to the traveler experience is going to cut travel volumes by some amount. As the summer ends, this will become a more pressing issue, and we'll have to factor the fees into travel budgets and documentation.”

The World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that international visitor spending in the US will drop below $169 billion in 2025, down from $181 billion in 2024. Analysts say higher costs and restrictive immigration policies could worsen the decline, even as the US prepares for events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Aran Ryan, director of industry studies at Tourism Economics, said,
"We see it as a sustained setback, and we anticipate much of it is in place throughout the administration."

Some industry players view the fee as an unavoidable part of US visa rules. Su Shu, founder of Moment Travel in Chengdu, said,

"The US has always been selective about its visitors. If your financial standing isn’t up to par, getting a visa is tough anyway."

With inbound tourism already shrinking, experts fear the new charge could further discourage international visitors.

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