
Some visitors to the United States will soon need to pay US$250 'visa integrity fee'
The US$250 fee will apply to all visitors who are required to obtain non-immigrant visas to enter the US. This includes business and leisure travellers, as well as international students. The fee will be in addition to existing visa and immigration fees.
Tourists and business travellers from countries or regions that are part of the US visa waiver program - such as Singapore, Australia, Japan and many European countries - are not required to obtain visas for stays of 90 days or less.
US Visa Waiver Program
The US Visa Waiver Program enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries or territories to travel to the US for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa, though they must still have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval.
Travellers must be a citizen or national of the following countries or territories:
Andorra
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brunei
Chile
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
San Marino
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
United Kingdom
Collapse
According to the legislative provision, visitors will be required to make payment at the same time their visas are issued. There will be no fee waivers, though visitors who comply with their visa provisions can have the fee reimbursed after their trip is over.
Any fees that are not reimbursed "shall be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury", a provision in the Bill says.
The initial fee for fiscal year 2025 is outlined at either US$250 or greater, determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The fee is also subject to annual adjustments for inflation.
"The intent behind this refund provision is to incentivise compliance with US immigration laws by treating the US$250 as a refundable security deposit - essentially rewarding those who follow the rules," wrote immigration lawyer Steven A Brown, a partner at Houston-based Reddy Neumann Brown PC, in a blog post on his firm's website.
Trump on Jul 4 signed his "Big Beautiful Bill" into law, saying that the Bill's passage would supercharge the US economy. However, it is also expected to add trillions of dollars to the US deficit.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has cracked down on immigration, banning citizens from several countries and making efforts to deny enrollment of foreign students.
While the visa integrity fee was approved after the Bill was passed, it has not been implemented yet.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency instituting the new fee, has not provided any specific details about the refund process or other aspects of the implementation of the fee.
'The visa integrity fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementation,' CNN reported, citing a DHS spokesperson.
Brown warned that the fee reimbursement is not automatic, and that the burden will likely fall on visa holders to prove compliance and request the refund through a process that has not yet been announced.
'Until those procedures are announced, employers and foreign nationals should treat the US$250 visa integrity fee as a non-refundable upfront cost and plan accordingly,' Brown said.
'If a refund becomes viable in the future, it may provide an added benefit - but for now, it remains a theoretical incentive awaiting implementation guidelines.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
20 minutes ago
- Business Times
DayOne breaks ground on first Singapore data centre to trial hydrogen-based power generation
[SINGAPORE] Singapore-based DayOne Data Centers is developing the nation's first data centre to pilot on-site hydrogen-based power generation. The company broke ground for the 20 megawatt data centre on Friday (Jul 25). The artificial intelligence-ready facility with a gross floor area of approximately 40,000 square metres is located within the Jurong East Data Centre Cluster. This is DayOne's first data centre in Singapore. The facility will be fully powered by renewable energy through a power purchase agreement with Sembcorp Power. DayOne is also partnering the National University of Singapore to pilot on-site solid oxide fuel cell power generation. Hydrogen could supply half of the Republic's power needs by 2050, according to the National Hydrogen Strategy released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 2022. DayOne was one of four data centre operators selected by the Singapore Economic Development Board and Infocomm Media Development Authority for the pilot Data Centre - Call for Application (DC-CFA) exercise in 2023. The other data centres selected for the DC-CFA were Equinix, Microsoft and a tie-up between AirTrunk and ByteDance. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up DayOne was formerly the international arm of Chinese data centre firm GDS. It was established in 2022 and began operating as an independent group in 2025. 'This facility marks our commitment to Singapore as both (a) home base and regional hub, while highlighting our long-term vision to power South-east Asia's digital transformation with green infrastructure,' said DayOne's chief executive officer Jamie Khoo in a press statement. The Singapore data centre forms part of DayOne's larger ambition to support digital transformation across the Singapore-Johor-Riau Islands Growth Triangle. DayOne secured RM15 billion (S$4.6 billion) in dual-tranche green financing to support capital expenditure to develop its Johor data centres. It also operates data centres in markets such as Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong.
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
Wedding in a park
WHEN PARKROYAL COLLECTION PICKERING – FORMERLY Parkroyal on Pickering – opened in 2013, it set a benchmark for a city hotel in the tropics. Facing Hong Lim Park, the terraced facade of Woha's multiple-award-winning architecture became a new landmark – not just for travellers, but also for Singapore's urban scenery. 'As Singapore's first hotel-in-a-garden with iconic architecture that seamlessly blends urban luxury with nature, Parkroyal Collection Pickering offers a truly distinctive setting for weddings,' says Kung Teong Wah, the hotel's general manager. 'With 15,000 square metres of greenery, sky gardens and tranquil water features, the hotel offers a setting that is romantic and refined.' The building design features plants prominently. Rather than just shrubs in planters, there are swathes of frangipani and palm trees. Other tropical plants drape the 'topographical architecture' of the pre-cast concrete walls that resemble abstract rock formations. At the William Pickering Ballroom, light streams in through floor-to-ceiling glass panels, adding flair as well as verdant views of nature. PHOTO: PARKROYAL COLLECTION PICKERING On the podium level, the William Pickering Ballroom looks out to Hong Lim Park and the surrounding skyscrapers, connecting the wedding ceremony with the city. The ballroom, which can accommodate up to 250 guests, allows light to stream in through floor-to-ceiling glass panels, adding flair as well as verdant views of nature to the wedding decor. For more intimate events, the Alexander Room seats 120 guests. The Outdoor Terrace, meanwhile, is ideal not only as a spill-out area after the main ceremony, but also as a striking venue for cocktail parties and solemnisations – with a picture-perfect vertical garden and the spectacle of ombre sunsets as the backdrop, should the couple choose this magical time of the day. To make the most out of the special garden setting, the hotel offers three Singapore-centric wedding themes. PHOTO: PARKROYAL COLLECTION PICKERING To make the most out of the special garden setting, the hotel offers three Singapore-centric wedding themes: ocean-inspired, with soft pastels evoking the tranquil beauty of the sea; a lush botanical set-up; and a contemporary, sophisticated 'archi-luxe' setting that pays homage to the building's distinctive architecture. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up In terms of food, sustainability-minded couples have plenty of choice. 'The culinary team offers 'eco-chic' options, featuring fresh greens from our urban farm and sustainably sourced ingredients, and all menus are free from shark's fin and endangered produce,' says Kung, highlighting Parkroyal Collection Pickering's environmental focus. The hotel's culinary team offers 'eco-chic' options, such as sustainably sourced ingredients. PHOTO: PARKROYAL COLLECTION PICKERING Couples who tie the knot after November 2025 can look forward to the hotel's own 'new beginnings' – it is pulling out all the stops to ensure it remains an attractive venue with a S$3.7 million refurbishment of its function spaces by Woha Architects. The William Pickering Ballroom, for instance, will have a 16-metre-long LED panel that will expand options for engaging presentations. Two LED panels in the Alexander Room and an LED photo wall in the foyer will also enhance seamless programming possibilities as the couple and their guests move from space to space. Couples who wed at Parkroyal Collection Pickering are automatically enrolled in the Pan Pacific Discovery Loyalty Programme. PHOTO: PARKROYAL COLLECTION PICKERING As smaller weddings of 100 to 250 guests become more popular, Parkroyal Collection Pickering's intimate spaces are increasingly in demand. Busy couples also appreciate the hotel's Celebrations Curators, who become their trusted advisers, especially when navigating the complexity of mixed-race weddings. 'Cultural sensitivity is key,' Kung notes. 'Our team is trained to ask the right questions, from halal requirements to understanding different ceremonies, ensuring a thoughtful and inclusive experience.' Couples who fall in love with the Parkroyal Collection Pickering's bucolic environment will be happy to know they will be welcomed back for an anniversary stay – a perk of the Pan Pacific Discovery Loyalty Programme, for which they are automatically enrolled under the Titanium tier. Just a 'little something extra' for them to enjoy, even long after the wedding day.
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
VW cuts outlook after US tariffs added 1.3 billion euros in costs
[BERLIN] Volkswagen lowered its financial outlook for the year, with the escalating cost of President Donald Trump's tariffs weighing on earnings at the Audi and Porsche brands. The automaker now sees an operating return on sales as low as 4 per cent, from at least 5.5 per cent previously, after the US duties added 1.3 billion euros (S$1.95 billion) in costs during the first half. Volkswagen also cited internal restructuring expenses and greater sales of lower-margin electric vehicles for the forecast change. 'We cannot assume that the tariff situation is only temporary,' chief executive officer Oliver Blume said on Friday (Jul 25) on a call, noting that Trump's current levies would add several billion euros in costs this year. 'We are counting on the European Commission and the US government to reach a balanced outcome on the tariff issue.' Europe's largest carmaker is under pressure to cut costs and improve its products to deal with crises in three key markets. Trump's levies are eating into sales and earnings for import-dependent Audi and Porsche, while muted demand and high production costs weigh on profits in Europe. Volkswagen also is losing market share in China, where consumers increasingly opt for local brands. Volkswagen now sees flat revenue for the year, from 5 per cent growth previously, and also reduced its outlook for free cash flow. The lower end of its forecast assumes the 27.5 per cent US tariffs will stick in the second half, while the upper end foresees the levies being reduced to 10 per cent. 'We need a good compromise,' chief financial officer Arno Antlitz said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. 'A solution that fits both the needs of the American administration, but also European automakers.' BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Volkswagen shares declined as much as 3 per cent in Frankfurt. The stock is still up around 6 per cent this year. The German manufacturer isn't alone in facing challenges: Some of its peers are dealing with tumult in top management, with Stellantis NV having recently named a new chief executive officer and Renault SA seeking a permanent CEO. Volkswagen is counting on partnerships with Rivian Automotive in the US and China's Xpeng to bolster its products, though new models from those efforts won't be available until next year. The challenges in China, where brands led by BYD are locked in a fierce EV price war, continue to hurt Volkswagen's profits. The operating result from its operations in the biggest car market fell more than a third in the second quarter. Volkswagen expects its joint-venture activities in the country to contribute at best €1 billion this year, down from the 1.7 billion euro proportionate operating result in 2024. The group's trucking business Traton SE late Thursday cut its outlook due to the trade hurdles as well as weak economic growth in Europe and declining orders in Brazil. The unit's adjusted operating result slumped 29 per cent in the second quarter. There were some bright spots. The namesake VW brand has seen EV sales rise in Europe in recent months thanks to rebating and buyers increasingly shunning Tesla over Elon Musk's political activities. The company sees strong order intake momentum continuing through the end of the year in Europe after EV deliveries rose 73 per cent there in the second quarter, driven by robust demand for models including the VW ID.5, the Audi Q4 e-tron and the Skoda Enyaq. BLOOMBERG