Latest news with #JorgeLoweree
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Canadian permanent residents will now have to pay 'visa integrity fee' to enter U.S. Here's what it is
Included in the Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was recently enacted, is a provision about some travellers having to pay $250, a so-called 'visa integrity fee,' to enter the country. The act includes a plan to secure the U.S. border and gives Homeland Security the resources it needs, per the White House. It promises to provide more funding for ICE agents, for detention centres, as well as funds for completing the U.S.'s border wall. The visa integrity fee is meant to go toward supporting 'enforcement and administrative efforts related to U.S. visa policy and border security,' USA Today reported. Another travel policy that was previously announced by the Trump administration, the alien registration requirement for foreigners, was later updated to exempt most Canadians from being fingerprinted. Currently, in most cases, Canadians do not require visitor, business, transit or other visas to enter the United States from Canada, according to the Canadian federal government. Here's what to know so far. Who must pay the visa integrity fee? The visa integrity fee applies to 'any alien issued a nonimmigrant visa at the time of such issuance,' according to the act. It must be paid in addition to any other fee authorized by law. The fee is currently set at $250, although it can be increased, and will be adjusted for inflation. 'Attaching an additional $250 fee has the very real potential to significantly reduce the number of people that can afford to do that,' managing director of programs and strategy at the American Immigration Council Jorge Loweree told USA Today. 'There are hundreds of thousands of people who receive visas and permission from the Department of State to come to the U.S. every single month temporarily.' Do Canadians have to pay this fee? In most cases, no. Canadian citizens can usually stay in the U.S. for 6 months without a visa, but there are some exceptions, which are listed on the U.S. Department of State website. However, permanent residents of Canada do require a nonimmigrant visa and will have to pay the fee. Can the visa integrity fee be waived? No. According to the bill, it will not be waived or reduced. However, the secretary of Homeland Security can provide a reimbursement if the person has complied with all of the conditions of the nonimmigrant visa. This means the person has not tried to extend the period of admission and has left the United States no later than five days after the visa's expiry. A person can also be reimbursed if they were granted an extension of nonimmigrant status or if their status changed to 'a lawful permanent resident.' 'The intent behind this refund provision is to incentivize compliance with U.S. immigration laws by treating the $250 as a refundable security deposit — essentially rewarding those who follow the rules,' lawyer Steven Brown wrote online. Brown is a partner at U.S. immigration law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC based in Houston. When will the visa integrity fee go into effect? Although the act has been signed into law, it is not immediately clear when the fee will be implemented. In his blog post, Brown wrote there was no effective date. How will this affect travel to the United States? As well as the visa integrity fee, there were also other fees included in the act. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued a statement to Congress, calling the fees 'foolish.' 'Raising fees on lawful international visitors amounts to a self-imposed tariff on one of our nation's largest exports: international travel spending,' said Freeman. 'These fees are not reinvested in improving the travel experience and do nothing but discourage visitation at a time when foreign travellers are already concerned about the welcome experience and high prices.' Forbes reported that U.S. tourism officials 'argue that anything that makes it more difficult or expensive to visit the United States can be a deterrent to large numbers of visitors.' Tensions between the U.S. and Canada are already high amid an ongoing trade war and rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state. Jordan Peterson's house in Toronto up for sale as he and his wife relocate to the U.S. Border bitterness is devastating cross-border tourism. But one Canadian city is bucking the trend Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Vancouver Sun
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Travellers headed to the U.S. will now have to pay a 'visa integrity fee.' Here's what it is
Included in the Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act , which was recently enacted, is a provision about some travellers having to pay $250, a so-called 'visa integrity fee,' to enter the country. The act includes a plan to secure the U.S. border and gives Homeland Security the resources it needs, per the White House . It promises to provide more funding for ICE agents, for detention centres, as well as funds for completing the U.S.'s border wall. The visa integrity fee is meant to go toward supporting 'enforcement and administrative efforts related to U.S. visa policy and border security,' USA Today reported . Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. 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 Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Another travel policy that was previously announced by the Trump administration, the alien registration requirement for foreigners, was later updated to exempt most Canadians from being fingerprinted. Currently, in most cases, Canadians do not require visitor, business, transit or other visas to enter the United States from Canada, according to the Canadian federal government . Here's what to know so far. The visa integrity fee applies to 'any alien issued a nonimmigrant visa at the time of such issuance,' according to the act. It must be paid in addition to any other fee authorized by law. The fee is currently set at $250, although it can be increased, and will be adjusted for inflation. 'Attaching an additional $250 fee has the very real potential to significantly reduce the number of people that can afford to do that,' managing director of programs and strategy at the American Immigration Council Jorge Loweree told USA Today. 'There are hundreds of thousands of people who receive visas and permission from the Department of State to come to the U.S. every single month temporarily.' No. According to the bill, it will not be waived or reduced. However, the secretary of Homeland Security can provide a reimbursement if the person has complied with all of the conditions of the nonimmigrant visa. This means the person has not tried to extend the period of admission and has left the United States no later than five days after the visa's expiry. A person can also be reimbursed if they were granted an extension of nonimmigrant status or if their status changed to 'a lawful permanent resident.' 'The intent behind this refund provision is to incentivize compliance with U.S. immigration laws by treating the $250 as a refundable security deposit — essentially rewarding those who follow the rules,' lawyer Steven Brown wrote online . Brown is a partner at U.S. immigration law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC based in Houston. Although the act has been signed into law, it is not immediately clear when the fee will be implemented. In his blog post, Brown wrote there was no effective date. As well as the visa integrity fee, there were also other fees included in the act. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued a statement to Congress , calling the fees 'foolish.' 'Raising fees on lawful international visitors amounts to a self-imposed tariff on one of our nation's largest exports: international travel spending,' said Freeman. 'These fees are not reinvested in improving the travel experience and do nothing but discourage visitation at a time when foreign travellers are already concerned about the welcome experience and high prices.' Forbes reported that U.S. tourism officials 'argue that anything that makes it more difficult or expensive to visit the United States can be a deterrent to large numbers of visitors.' Tensions between the U.S. and Canada are already high amid an ongoing trade war and rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
USA Today
17-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Entry to the US is getting more expensive
The cost of coming to the United States is going up. The recently passed legislative package (referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) includes a new law approving fee hikes for travelers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) systems and new charges for migrants apprehended at the border. From a minimum $13 ESTA fee to $5,000 penalties for arrests of undocumented people, the act reshapes the financial landscape of entering the U.S. While the U.S. is trying to attract more global tourists, it's also getting serious about fees that will impact border crossing for both travelers and migrants. What is the 'visa integrity fee' for non‑immigrant visas? The visa integrity fee is a mandatory $250 fee to be paid by nonimmigrant visa applicants. It is applied in addition to any other existing visa-related fees. The purpose of the fee is to support enforcement and administrative efforts related to U.S. visa policy and border security. "Attaching an additional $250 fee has the very real potential to significantly reduce the number of people that can afford to do that," Jorge Loweree, Managing Director of Programs and Strategy at the American Immigration Council, told USA TODAY. "There are hundreds of thousands of people who receive visas and permission from the Department of State to come to the U.S. every single month temporarily." The visa integrity fee does not replace or offset any other fees, like the DS-160 application fee, biometrics, or reciprocity fees, and it cannot be waived or reduced. The act also does not limit how the fee may be increased or applied across visa categories, leaving it to the Secretary of Homeland Security to implement via regulation. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement after Congress' approval of the legislative package: This legislation is a giant step in the right direction when it comes to improving America's travel infrastructure and security. Bold, necessary investments in air traffic control and Customs and Border Protection will make a meaningful difference in the traveler's experience ... The smart investments in the travel process make foolish new fees on foreign visitors and reductions to Brand USA, America's promotion arm, that much harder to swallow. Making America the world's most visited destination – and capitalizing on the upcoming World Cup and Summer Olympics – requires smarter policy and legislative changes that we are already pursuing. Brand USA did not provide a comment. How much is the ESTA fee to enter the US? Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress extended funding for Brand USA by reaffirming the ESTA fee structure and introducing mandatory fee hikes. Starting in fiscal year 2025, the law mandates that ESTA include "not less than $13 per travel authorization." It also links future increases to the Consumer Price Index, allowing for annual inflation-based adjustments to take effect beginning in 2026. Currently, the U.S. General Services Administration states the total cost is $21, noting that applicants will pay a $4 processing fee and a $17 authorization fee if approved. "Some of these policy decisions are incoherent," Loweree said. "You see fee hikes on one end, and on the other, claims that the goal is to increase tourism." The law also codifies a new fee for EVUS, used by certain Chinese nationals, setting a minimum at $30, or more at the discretion of DHS. Like the ESTA fee, the EVUS fee will increase annually based on inflation. There's also a separate $5,000 'inadmissible alien apprehension fee' applied to those caught between ports of entry. Who has to apply for ESTA? U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends that citizens from countries in the Visa Waiver Program who don't have a visitor's visa and plan to be in the U.S. for 90 days or less apply. Which countries are part of the Visa Waiver Program? This story was updated to add new information.
USA Today
17-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
ESTA and border fees to rise under new US travel and visa law
The cost of visiting or moving to the United States is going up. The recently passed legislative package (referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) includes a new law approving fee hikes for travelers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) systems and new charges for migrants apprehended at the border. From a minimum $13 ESTA fee to $5,000 penalties for arrests of undocumented people, the act reshapes the financial landscape of entering the U.S. While the U.S. is trying to attract more global tourists, it's also getting serious about fees that will impact border crossing for both travelers and migrants. "Something that the act does is guarantee funding for Brand USA (America's destination marketing organization). Yet the ESTA and ... the nonimmigrant visas are being raised – sort of curtailing the intended purpose of funding Brand USA," Jorge Loweree, Managing Director of Programs and Strategy at the American Immigration Council, told USA TODAY. Brand USA did not provide a comment. What is the 'visa integrity fee' for non‑immigrant visas? The visa integrity fee is a mandatory $250 fee to be paid by nonimmigrant visa applicants. It is applied in addition to any other existing visa-related fees. The purpose of the fee is to support enforcement and administrative efforts related to U.S. visa policy and border security. "Attaching an additional $250 fee has the very real potential to significantly reduce the number of people that can afford to do that," Loweree said. "There are hundreds of thousands of people who receive visas and permission from the Department of State to come to the U.S. every single month temporarily." The visa integrity fee does not replace or offset any other fees, like the DS-160 application fee, biometrics, or reciprocity fees, and it cannot be waived or reduced. The act also does not limit how the fee may be increased or applied across visa categories, leaving it to the Secretary of Homeland Security to implement via regulation. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement after Congress' approval of the legislative package: This legislation is a giant step in the right direction when it comes to improving America's travel infrastructure and security. Bold, necessary investments in air traffic control and Customs and Border Protection will make a meaningful difference in the traveler's experience ... The smart investments in the travel process make foolish new fees on foreign visitors and reductions to Brand USA, America's promotion arm, that much harder to swallow. Making America the world's most visited destination – and capitalizing on the upcoming World Cup and Summer Olympics – requires smarter policy and legislative changes that we are already pursuing. How much is the ESTA fee to enter the US? Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress extended funding for Brand USA by reaffirming the ESTA fee structure and introducing mandatory fee hikes. Starting in fiscal year 2025, the law mandates that ESTA include "not less than $13 per travel authorization." It also links future increases to the Consumer Price Index, allowing for annual inflation-based adjustments to take effect beginning in 2026. "Some of these policy decisions are incoherent," Loweree said. "You see fee hikes on one end, and on the other, claims that the goal is to increase tourism." The law also codifies a new fee for EVUS, used by certain Chinese nationals, setting a minimum at $30, or more at the discretion of DHS. Like the ESTA fee, the EVUS fee will increase annually based on inflation. There's also a separate $5,000 'inadmissible alien apprehension fee' applied to those caught between ports of entry. Who has to apply for ESTA? U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends that citizens from countries in the Visa Waiver Program who don't have a visitor's visa and plan to be in the U.S. for 90 days or less apply. Which countries are part of the Visa Waiver Program?
