The cost of visiting the United States is set to rise for numerous international travelers. These changes, enacted by the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, are slated to take effect on September 30th. The new fees will particularly impact visitors from Middle Eastern countries covered by the Visa Waiver Program, enabling tourism or business trips up to 90 days. This includes nations such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, most of Europe, and Qatar. Beyond the ESTA, these fee adjustments also extend to travelers entering the US at land borders, where the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record fee will increase significantly, from $6 to $30. Moreover, Chinese travelers will be required to pay a new $30 enrollment fee for the Electronic Visa Update System. The implementation of these fees comes at a time when U.S. tourism faces headwinds. According to projections, the U.S. is the only country out of 184 economies anticipated to experience a decline in international visitor spending in 2025. The new fees, combined with the forthcoming $250 ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ for many non-Visa Waiver countries, could potentially lead to a decrease in international travel to the U.S.
