I suppose you have heard of the new law passed in the United States by Republican President Trump, the Big Beautiful Act. This law includes sections that introduce changes in multiple aspects in the country, from social assistance to visas to enter the country, which is the case at hand. If you are not a U.S. citizen and you are thinking of taking a trip to the United States, you should know the following. With the approval of this new law, all those who enter the country with a non-immigrant visa will have to pay the so-called integrity fee. This affects tourists, students and business travelers alike.
They will have to pay $250 in “bail.” According to the law, the amount will be refunded to the traveler if they comply with the days of stay stipulated by their visa. However, attorney Loren Locke warns that these B1/B2 visas are valid for 10 years, so reimbursement is considered almost impossible.The price of the visa will be adjusted by the Department of Homeland Security, which may change it based on inflation. An alternative to this payment is the electronic ESTA permit, Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
This permit allows entry into the country without having to pay any type of visa, as long as the traveler’s country is part of the Visa Waiver Program. This is not the case for countries like China, India, Brazil, Nigeria, South America, or the Middle East. There are concerns that this measure is affecting tourism, as airlines like Air Canada have already canceled flights due to decreased demand.
Big Beautiful Bill Act
This is about the new law pushed by Trump during his second and current term. With this new proposal, he aims to achieve budget reconciliation through cuts in social assistance, tax reforms benefiting the wealthiest, cuts in public health, energy deregulation, and tightening immigration policies. It was approved by the Senate on July 1, 2025, by the House of Representatives on July 3 of the same year, and on July 4 it was enacted by President Trump.
Pay to enter the United States: visa integrity fee
In addition to all the previously mentioned aspects, the law also includes this new measure. The United States has created the ‘Visa Integrity fee,’ through which all individuals entering the country with a non-immigrant visa will have to pay a ‘bond.’ This affects both international students and tourists or business travelers, and the cost will be $250.
Authorities have explained that this is a refundable amount, but we must not be fooled. Attorney Loren Locke explained in the Daily Mail that ‘Many B1/B2 visas are valid for a full decade. That is a long time to keep receipts and wait to get the money back.’ In other words, it is a sunk cost that we will very unlikely recover, and we should consider it as an extra expense on our trip.
Who is most affected?
As with everything, the United States has exceptions or clearer cases than others. Countries like China, Brazil, India, or Nigeria will be directly affected, due to not having exemption programs, just like the majority of tourists from Africa, the Middle East, and South America. The main exception will be experienced by those who enter the country with an ESTA authorization. This corresponds to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, an electronic permit that allows travel to the United States without the need for a visa, as long as the traveler’s country is part of the Visa Waiver Program. Currently, travelers entering with this type of visa pay between $21 and $40.
How will it affect the US?
Although it is estimated that this measure could generate $30 billion for the country, experts warn of the danger it poses to tourism. Locke stated that “additional fees may deter legitimate travelers while doing little to stop actual visa violations.” There is already a decline in demand for international travel to the United States, as reflected by some airlines like Air Canada, which has canceled flights for this reason. How do you think this new measure will affect the country?
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