Based on a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act issued by the Trump administration, international visitors to the US will have to pay an additional visas compliance fee.
This fee will apply to all those who travel to the US under a non-resident visa, including tourists, businessmen and students.
Except for those under the visa verification program such as citizens of Australia, Japan or European countries, this fee is mandatory and cannot be exempted.
Tourists must pay this fee immediately upon being granted a visa to the US. This means that if the visa request is rejected, tourists will not have to pay the fee.
This visas compliance fee is an addition to regular visa fees. For example, an H-1B worker who paid 205 USD for the application fee may now have to pay a total of 455 USD when this fee is effective.
Notably, visas compliance fee also includes the Form I-94 fee. This is a fee that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has increased from $6 to $24. The I-94 fee will be applied to most international tourists.
Regarding the refund mechanism, visa holders must comply with conditions such as "not accepting illegal employment" and not being ahead of the visa deadline for more than 5 days. The refund will be made after the travel visa expires.
However, it is not yet clear when tourists will officially have to pay this additional fee, or how to refund it.
The US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said that President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act provides the necessary policies and resources to restore the integrity of the country's immigration system.
However, data shows that most visa holders comply with the terms.
In 2016-22, the US Congressional Research Department said that only 1%-2% of tourists with tourism visas were over the prescribed time limit in the US.
However, it is estimated that behind the 11 million people who have entered the country illegally are behind the deadline.
This fee can have the strongest impact on non-resident visa holders such as businessmen, tourists and international students. At the same time, along with the I-94 fee, visas compliance fees are being introduced as the US prepares to host a number of major events in 2026, including the 250th anniversary of the US founding 250 and part of the FIFA World Cup.
These barriers are further compounded by the One Big Beautiful Bill law, which cuts the budget of Brand USA - an American travel marketing agency to international visitors - from $100 million to just $20 million.
Brand USA President and CEO Fred Dixon expressed his "disappointment" about the cut but also hoped the fund would be restored in 2026.
We remain focused on promoting legitimate international travel and the important boost it provides for the US economy, he affirmed.
