New U.S. visa fee could curb World Cup, Olympic travel

• Critics say the provision in the "big, beautiful bill" is a stealth "junk fee" that could harm inbound tourism.

Catch up quick: The $250 fee applies to most nonimmigrant visa applicants— even for short trips — including tourists, students and temporary workers.

• The legislation specifies fee amounts for 2025, with future increases linked to inflation.
• The office estimates the State Department will issue about 120 million nonimmigrant visas between 2025 and 2034, which would raise $28.9 billion in revenue.
• The fee is in addition to the $185 nonimmigrant visa itself.

Yes, but: The fee doesn't apply to those from the 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program — including most of Europe, Japan, South Korea and others — who typically do not need a visa for visits of 90 days or less.

'A cynical junk fee'

What they're saying: "This is nothing more than a cynical junk fee that attempts to steal money from travelers that otherwise would have been spent in U.S. businesses," Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, tells Axios.

• Freeman said the fee "would make Ticketmaster blush" and amounts to $1,000 for a family of four — money he argues would otherwise be spent at restaurants, hotels, and retailers in the U.S.
• He added that rising costs — already the top deterrent for international travel to the U.S. — combined with a strong dollar, are making other destinations more attractive to global travelers.
• "The most likely action here is to simply go to another market where your business is more appreciated," he said.

By the numbers: The latest data from the USTA shows international travel volumes have been lagging.

• Total international visits were down 5% in June compared to the prior year, and down 2.9% for the first half of 2025.
• Travel-related businesses are hoping that rebounds in the coming years thanks to major internationa sporting events.
• 6.5 million people are expected to attend the FIFA World Cup across 16 cities in North America next year, while the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles are expected to bring in over 15 million visitors.

Visa integrity fee implementation

What's next: Exactly when the fee will go into effect isn't yet known. Laura Wong, a U.S. immigration attorney at KPMG Canada, says her firm anticipates it will start Oct. 1, which is the start of the government's fiscal year.

• A State Department spokesperson tells Axios the agency will provide more information on the fee's implementation and impact "as soon as practicable."
• The fee will be reimbursable but the process remains unclear, Wong said. The CBO said it expects a "small number of people would seek reimbursement."

Visa bond pilot program coming

The latest: In addition to the new fee, a separate visa bond requirement is being introduced.

• Under a new rule set to publish Tuesday, some foreign travelers will soon be required to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 before entering the U.S. It targets nationals from countries with high visa overstay rates and "where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient," the rule says.
• The 12-month pilot program is slated to begin Aug. 20 and is modeled after a Trump-era rule proposed in 2020 but never enacted due to the pandemic.
• The State Department expects about 2,000 travelers will be subject to visa bonds during the pilot, generating up to $20 million in refundable deposits.

The bottom line: The travel industry is urging policymakers to reverse course on the visa integrity fee, warning it could scare off visitors right when the country is supposed to welcome them.

Editor's note: This story was updated with additional information on the Visa Waiver Program and who doesn't need to pay the fee.