International travelers planning to visit the United States can expect higher costs, with new fees coming into effect on September 30. These changes, part of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ will predominantly affect visitors from Middle Eastern nations participating in the Visa Waiver Program. These visitors can currently travel for tourism or business for up to 90 days. This group includes countries like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, most of Europe, and Qatar. The new fees extend beyond the ESTA application; travelers entering the US through land borders will see the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record fee increase from $6 to $30. Additionally, those traveling from China will be required to pay a new $30 enrollment fee for the Electronic Visa Update System. This comes at a challenging moment for the US tourism industry. The United States is unique in that it’s the only one of 184 economies projected to witness a decline in international visitor spending in 2025. Coupled with the impending $250 ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ for many non-Visa Waiver countries, these increases may discourage international travel to the US.
