If you're planning a trip to the United States soon, you might want to revisit your budget. A new law, signed by former US President Donald Trump, now requires many foreign visitors, including Filipinos, to pay an additional $250 (about ₱14,300) as part of their visa application. This new rule is part of the &ldquo;Big Beautiful Bill,&rdquo; which covers a range of issues, including immigration and travel.
The added cost, called the Visa Integrity Fee, applies to most non-immigrant visa types. These include tourist, business, student, and media visas. Currently, a standard US visa for these categories costs $185. With the new fee, the total jumps to $435. The US Department of Homeland Security oversees the implementation of the fee, which cannot be waived or reduced and may increase over time due to inflation.
For many Filipinos, traveling to the US is already a major investment. Visa application fees, travel insurance, flights, accommodation, and everyday expenses can easily add up, making a US trip a costly experience. This new fee could make trips to the US even harder to afford, especially for students or first-time travelers.
It&rsquo;s worth noting that some countries are exempt from this fee under the US Visa Waiver Program. These include nations like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and most of Europe. Unfortunately, the Philippines is not part of this program, which means Filipino travelers will need to prepare for the added cost.
While the fee may be an added hurdle, it helps to plan ahead and save early. For many, the chance to visit the US is still worth the extra effort and expense.