US Hits Travelers with Twofold and Fivefold Fee Hikes
New fee increases have taken effect for travelers entering the US under various entry systems.
- The I-94 land border entry fee jumped from $6 to $30, representing a fivefold rise.
This applies to travelers entering the US by land and is required for documenting their admission to the country.
Some travelers are exempt from completing the I-94, including American citizens, returning permanent residents, most Canadian visitors or transiting travelers, and non-US citizens with immigrant visas.
- The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee almost doubled from $21 to $40.
ESTA applies to citizens of the 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) traveling to the US for business or leisure for up to 90 days without a visa.
Approved ESTA authorizations remain valid for two years, allowing multiple entries during that period.
- The Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) fee for Chinese nationals increased from $0 to $30.
EVUS is required for Chinese nationals holding 10-year B1/B2 visas to update their travel data with US Customs and Border Protection. It had been free since its introduction in 2016.
- Also incoming is the new $250 Visa Integrity Fee that applies to most foreign nationals applying for a non-immigrant visa to enter the US.
This includes tourists, business visitors, students, and temporary workers. It is in addition to existing visa application fees, for example, the standard $185 for tourist visas.
Travelers from countries in the VWP, such as many European nations, Australia, and South Korea, are exempt from this fee but must still pay the increased ESTA fee.
The fee adjustments were introduced as part of the Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law in July 2025.
Photo by Bravo Prince on Unsplash
