Brits face new £185 visa fee when visiting the US under new rules
HOL-D ON Brits face new £185 visa fee when visiting the US under new rules
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VISITORS heading to America could face a 'Visa Integrity Fee' under new rules.
The new fee falls under President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' and could see Brits paying a substantial fee to visit America.
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Brits could have to pay a new fee to visit the US
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Under a new bill, any traveller that needs a 'nonimmigrant visa' will have to pay $250
Credit: Getty
The fee will apply to anyone who needs a 'non-immigrant visa' - which includes people travelling for business, study and temporary work for more than three months.
It will cost around $250 (£185.80) and is expected to be introduced before the end of 2025.
The cost will also be on top of all existing visa application fees.
Individuals will pay the fee once a visa is issued and if an application is denied, then you won't be charged the fee.
The fee will also be reimbursed if travellers stick to their visa conditions such as not working illegally and not overstaying their visa by more than five days.
The reimbursement will be given after your visa expires - although, the process is not clear yet.
Once the fee is implemented, the money will go to the US treasury Department's general fund and is estimated to bring in $28.9billion (£21.3billion) over the next decade.
There will also be an increase in the fee for the I-94 form, which records arrival and departure dates.
The fee will rise from $6 (£4.46) to $24 (£17.84).
According to CNBC, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security said: "President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill provides the necessary policies and resources to restore integrity in our nation's immigration system."
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However, under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) - which the UK is part of - most Brits travelling to the US for tourism or short business trips, do not need a visa.
Instead, they will need to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).
As a result, Brits eligible for and using an ESTA, will not need to pay the new Visa Integrity Fee.
Brits that will be impacted by the new fee include those travelling for a purpose not covered by the VWP such as long-term study or certain types of employment or those not eligible for VWP due to their travel history, like travel to restricted countries.
According to the GOV.UK website, travellers can apply for an ESTA via the Official ESTA Application Website or by using the ESTA mobile app.
Though travellers may be unable to apply for an ESTA visa waiver if they have been arrested, have a criminal record, have been refused admission into or have been deported from the US or have previously overstayed an ESTA visa waiver.
An ESTA application costs $21 (£15.60) and can take up to 72 hours to be approved.
Tourist visa waiver for US holidays to cost more
THE fee for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is expected to rise in the future.
Thanks to a new bill being passed, the price of an ESTA is set to double from $21 (£15.38) to $40 (£29.30).
Before entering the US, Brits are required to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
The fee is currently $21 (£15.38) to apply for an ESTA - a price which was introduced in May 2022.
Prior to this date, the fee was $14 (£10.25) and will now rise to $40 (£29.30) although an official start date is yet to be confirmed.
The rise in fees is part of US President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill".
The current rules require every visitor from the UK to apply for an ESTA to be allowed access into the United States.
An ESTA is generally valid for two years from the date of approval, or until the passport used for the application expires, whichever comes first.
If your passport expires before the two-year period, your ESTA will be valid only until the passport's expiration date.
These are the latest travel rules for Brits heading to America after European tourists have been stopped at the border.
Plus, Brits will face a new £17 visa-waiver charge to travel to Europe next year.
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