Latest news with #ErikHansen
Vancouver Sun
07-08-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
U.S. visa bonds could cost up to $15K for some foreign travellers
The U.S. State Department plans to start running a pilot program this month that would require some foreign travellers to pay up to US$15,000 for a reimbursable visa bond that deters them from staying in the U.S. longer than they're allowed for business or tourism. Some details are outlined in a public notice that appeared Monday on the Federal Register, but many are still unclear, including which countries would be targeted by the program. The pilot begins Aug. 20, according to a statement the State Department sent to The Washington Post. A cable with a signature from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that was obtained by The Post says the 12-month pilot program is intended 'to protect America's borders and the American people by holding foreign visitors accountable for departing the United States on time.' It will be aimed at countries with high visa overstay rates. Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. According to a Department of Homeland Security report on overstays in fiscal year 2023, several countries in Africa as well as Haiti, Myanmar and Yemen have some of the highest overstay rates for business or leisure travel visas. People from countries that participate in the visa waiver program — those who do not have to apply for visas, in other words — would not be required to post visa bonds. That exempts travellers from 42 countries, including much of Europe, Australia, Taiwan, Qatar and Israel. For couples or families, the potential upfront cost of US$10,000 or US$15,000 for each adult and US$5,000 for accompanying children could be prohibitive. The bonds would be cancelled for travellers who leave the country in the time frame allowed and comply with all the conditions of their visa. According to the public notice , published Tuesday, the department assumes bonds would be required for 2,000 potential travellers during the pilot. The notice says the initial cost to travellers would be US$20 million total, if the average bond were US$10,000. 'However, assuming all nonimmigrants for whom bonds are posted comply with the terms and conditions of the bond, the actual bond amount is a temporary expenditure that will be fully refunded if cash bonds are posted,' the notice says. The State Department planned a six-month visa bond pilot in 2020, but never implemented it as global travel dwindled during the pandemic. Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations for the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement that the pilot program's scope 'appears to be limited' and would likely only affect visitors from countries with a 'relatively low travel volume' to the U.S. The group said it was most concerned about a blanket $250 fee for visitors travelling on a nonimmigrant visa, which President Donald Trump signed into law last month. 'If this fee is implemented, the U.S. will have one of, if not the highest, visitor visa fees in the world,' Hansen said. 'If we are to maintain a competitive position in the global travel market, it's critical that U.S. visa policy reflects both national security priorities and the significant economic value of international visitation.' Hannah Natanson, Andrea Sachs and Adam Taylor contributed to this report.
Skift
18-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
U.S. Visa Sticker Shock: New $250 ‘Integrity Fee'
At a time when international arrivals to the U.S. are already slumping, these hefty additional fees will be one more reason not to visit. There are cheaper places to travel to with less hassle. Many travelers applying for U.S. tourist visas should be prepared to pay at least an additional $250 for a new 'Integrity Fee.' It's part of the recent budget law and hasn't been implemented yet, but the Department of Homeland is authorized to start charging this fiscal year. Starting in Fiscal Year 2026, which starts October 1, the Visa Integrity Fee will be adjusted annually for inflation. It applies to travelers applying for non-immigrant visas, but people from the more than 40 Visa Waiver Program countries are not subject to the Visa Integrity Fee. Travelers are eligible for reimbursement sometime after the visa expires as long as they don't overstay the visa expiration date by more than five days or engage in unauthorized work. 'There is no timeline for implementation of the fee or direction as to how the fee will be collected and refunded,' according to the U.S. Travel Association. One issue: It may discourage travelers from visiting the U.S. because they would have to shell out $250 and wonder if they would ever get the reimbursement. 'This fee, which will be at least $250 and comes on top of existing visa fees, adds an unnecessary financial barrier for international visitors,' said Erik Hansen, US Travel's senior vice president, government relation affairs. 'Among the top deterrents to visiting the U.S. are cost and visa wait times. And the new visa integrity fee increases the upfront costs of visiting the U.S. 144%, while doing nothing to lower interview wait times. Even if it is technically reimbursable, the added complexity and cost will discourage visitors.' $24 I-94 Fee That's not all of the costly news for some international arrivals in the new law: The application fee for the I-94 arrival and departure record will rise to $24 from $6. This fee will likely apply to travelers entering the U.S. by land, and to travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries. This fee will also increase each year with inflation. Those exempt from filling out the form include American citizens, resident aliens, most Canadians, and aliens with immigration visas. $40 ESTA Fee The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee is rising to $40 from the current $21. This will be paid by travelers who enter the U.S. from Visa Waiver Program countries at least through 2034. These are the Visa Waiver Program countries, according to the U.S. Department of State: U.S. Department of State Visa Wait Times and Cost A family of four from Brazil, which is not a visa waiver program country, would pay $1,876 in visa fees under the new pay structure to travel to the U.S., an increase of more than $1,100, according to the trade association. 'At a time when the U.S. should be focused on attracting more international visitors, especially ahead of global events like the World Cup and Summer Olympics, burdening them with higher fees and reducing funding for Brand USA is counterproductive,' Hansen said. 'We need smarter policies that enhance our global competitiveness, not ones that make the U.S. a less welcoming destination.' Revenue Generators Backers of the fees, however, see them as revenue generators. For example, 20% of the I-94 fees are earmarked for the Land Border Inspection Fee account, 20% go to Customs & Border Protection, and 60% ends up in the Treasury Department general fund. Regarding the ESTA fee, $10 goes to the Department of Homeland Security for cost recovery, $13 is funneled to the Treasury Department for Deficit Reduction, and $17 of the fee goes to the Travel Promotion Fund, which funds Brand USA.
