Heading to the US? There’s a new ₹22,000 visa fee
here's why
Hi there,
It’s Thursday, almost the weekend. Hope you’ve had a good week so far.
If you’ve been planning a trip to the United States (for a course, holiday, work, or just to catch up with friends), there’s a new update you might want to be aware of. It involves a new visa fee, and yes, it adds a bit more to your travel budget.
Let’s break it down.
📌 So, why the new visa fee?
Starting soon, the United States will be charging a new $250 (₹22,000) fee for most people applying for non-immigrant visas.
This is in addition to the existing $185 visa application fee, so the total now comes to $435 (₹38,000) for affected applicants.
This change is part of a broader policy push originally introduced during the Trump administration, aimed at strengthening immigration systems and improving travel infrastructure within the country.
📌 Who has to pay this new fee?
Anyone applying for a non-immigrant visa will have to pay the fee. That includes:
Tourists
Students
Business travelers
Temporary workers
Medical visitors
In short, most short-term travelers from countries like India, Brazil, China, and Mexico will now see this additional cost when applying.
According to the US State Department, over 11 million non-immigrant visas were issued in 2024 alone. So yes, the change will affect quite a few people.
📌 Here’s who won’t have to pay it
Not everyone is impacted.
People from countries that are part of the US visa waiver program won’t need to pay the new fee. This includes most of Europe, as well as:
The UK
Australia
Japan
South Korea
Israel
Chile
Qatar
Most Canadian travelers are also exempt.
📌 Oh, and can you get a refund?
Possibly, but details are still unclear.
Officials have said that the fee might be refundable after your trip if you’ve complied with all visa rules.
However, there’s currently no confirmed system for how or when the refund would be processed.
That lack of clarity has left many travelers confused, and for now, it’s safest to assume that you’ll need to budget for the full amount.
📌 What does this mean for tourism?
People working in the tourism and travel industry are concerned.
While the larger policy also includes positive changes, like improving immigration technology and airport systems, many believe this fee could discourage international visitors.
Geoff Freeman, CEO of the US Travel Association, called the new visa fees “foolish” and said they could negatively impact the country’s tourism economy.
Parisa Karaahmet, an immigration lawyer, also pointed out that the uncertainty around refunds may make travelers think twice before planning a trip. Especially students and first-time visitors.
📌 And yes, other fees are going up too
A few other travel-related charges are also seeing a hike:
The I-94 form fee (used to track arrivals and departures) will go from $6 to $24
EVUS (used by certain Chinese travelers) will increase from $8 to $30
ESTA (used by travelers from visa waiver countries) will go from $21 to $40
These fees may also rise with inflation in the future, which means the cost of travelling to the US could continue to go up in the coming years.
So, that’s it for today. If you enjoyed this edition, subscribe to hear from us every day!
See ya 👋
