The 1-94 fee, which is required for travelers entering the US by land, increased from $6 to $30. The $30 payment is mandatory for everyone except American citizens, returning lawful residents, non-US citizens with immigrant visas, and most Canadian citizens who are visiting or in transit.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee increased by almost twofold from $21 to $40. Travelers from the 42 countries that are part of the US Visa Waiver Program will need to pay the $40 levy when visiting the US for business or leisure trips lasting 90 days or less.
The Electronic Visa Update System fee, which is specifically for Chinese travelers to the US for temporary business or leisure, was increased to $30.
While those amounts are locked in for fiscal year 2026, which began on October 1, 2025, they could increase in the future to keep up with the rate of inflation.
The new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ could go into effect soon
So far, an official start date for the $250 “visa integrity fee” has not been announced, nor have other crucial logistical details about how the fee process will work. Here’s a look at what details have been released about the hefty new fee and what remains unclear.
Who will need to pay the new visa fee?
Any non-immigrant travelers from countries that are not on the US visa waiver list will need to pay the fee in order to enter the US. That means most tourists coming from Africa, Latin America, and South America, as well as select countries in Asia and the Middle East, will be subject to the new $250 levy.
Travelers from visa waiver countries who are visiting the US for a reason that requires a special visa will also be required to pay the fee. The fees will apply to all student visas, work visas, and other special visas, including: F-1 and F-2 student visas; J-1 and J-2 exchange visas; H1-b and H-4 temporary work visas, and other employment and visitor categories.
