UK travellers heading to US could be hit with new £185 visa fee under new rules
UK travellers heading to the United States could soon face an additional charge under new rules being proposed by the US government. The so-called 'Visa Integrity Fee' is part of President Donald Trump's proposed immigration policy, known as the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' and could see Brits paying a substantial fee to visit the states.
The new fee is expected to take effect before the end of 2025 and will apply to individuals applying for a 'non-immigrant visa', which includes those travelling to the US for business, study or temporary work lasting longer than three months.
The Visa Integrity Fee is set at around $250 (£185.80) and will be charged in addition to all existing visa application fees.
It is important to note that the fee is only charged once the visa is approved. If an application is denied no fee will be collected. Additionally, the fee will also be reimbursed if travellers stick to their visa conditions such as not working illegally and not overstaying for more than five days.
The reimbursement will be given after your visa expires, however, the exact process for reimbursement remains unclear.
Once implemented, the revenue generated from the fee will be directed to the US Treasury Department's general fund. The US government estimates that this could bring in $28.9 billion (£21.3 billion) over the next ten years.
In addition to the new visa fee, there will also be an increase in the cost of the I-94 form, which tracks arrival and departure dates for non-citizens. The fee for this form 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."
Despite the changes, most UK travellers are unlikely to be affected, thanks to the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). Under VWP, UK citizens visiting the US for tourism or short business trips typically do not require a visa.
Instead, they must apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), meaning they will not need to pay the new Visa Integrity Fee.
An ESTA costs $21 (£15.60) and can take up to 72 hours to be approved. However, not all Brits are eligible for an ESTA.
Those who have a criminal record, have previously been refused entry, deported or overstayed a prior ESTA. may need to apply for a visa and could therefore be charged the new Visa Integrity Fee.
Eligible travellers can apply for an ESTA through the official US government website or the ESTA mobile app, as stated by the GOV.UK website.
With the introduction of the Visa Integrity Fee, UK travellers planning extended stays in the US are advised to check their visa requirements and stay up to date with the latest immigration policies before travelling to America.
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