The United States will charge an additional fee of at least $ 250 to those who need a visa to enter the country. It is intended for all foreigners entering the US with a non-immigrant visa, including tourists, business visas and international students.
At the moment, Many tourists do not need a visa to enter the US, due to the visa exemption program, which allows residents of over 40 countries – including Portugal – Enter the US automatically for a period of less than 90 days.
But, visitors who need visathe United States will charge a $ 250 extra fee (213 euros, to the current exchange rate).
The rate on visitors visas, approved in the recent budget law of President Donald Trump, will be added to the established rates.
Designated “Visa integrity rate”It is intended for all foreigners entering the country with a non-immigrant visa, including tourists, business visas and international students.
According to state department data, the United States will issue almost 11 million non -immigrant visas in 2025.
A state department spokesman told CNN that the rate was created “to Support ”Trump Administration Immigration Priorities.
According to the legislation signed by the president on July 4, the internal security department has the authority to increase the current rate.
A rate will be adjusted to inflation And the payment will be required at the time of issuing the visa, without exemption from rates for people with low income.
Trump promises to reimburse
According to the new law, the holders of visas subject to the rate may be later reimbursed, provided that they comply with the restrictions of the visalike the country’s departure up to five days after it expires.
However, the law does not specify as visa holders may request The reimbursement of the fee, nor as it will be charged, says the CBS.
The Congress Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the new rate could reduce the federal deficit by $ 28.9 billion over the next ten years.
Fee on fee
According to CBS calculations, student visa applicants, who already need to pay an application fee of $ 185 and a $ 350 fee for the student and exchange visitors program, will have to pay their visa a total of $ 785, including the additional $ 250 fee.
Asylum applicants may have to support total registration fees of over $ 1,150 under the new law, when the process was free, according to the American Immigration Council (AIC, in the English acronym).
AIC said in a statement that these “high” rates block access to these services to people who cannot support extra payments.
