All foreigners entering the United States with a non-immigrant visa, including students, temporary workers and tourists from countries not covered by the visa exemption program, will pay a new mandatory fee of $ 250 from 2025. The measure, approved by President Donald Trump’s latest budget law, was announced by the US State Department and covers millions of annual visitors. According to the public, the countries with visa exemption, such as Portugal, are out of this obligation.
The new collection, designated “visa integrity fee”, applies at the time of issuing the document and adds to existing fees. This rate integrates a wider package of changes to immigration rules, now sanctioned by the US executive. The declared objective of the measure is to finance migratory policies and contribute to the reduction of the public deficit.
Impact on students, tourists and asylum applicants
According to the State Department, the United States is expected to issue close to 11 million non -immigrant visas by 2025. The new rate will be adjusted annually to inflation and does not foresee any exemption, even for low yield candidates. Visitors who fully meet the requirements of their visa, namely the country’s departure within the stipulated period, may request a reimbursement of the rate, although the process for this purpose is not yet defined.
In addition to visitors, international students and asylum applicants will also be affected. In the case of students, in addition to the application fee ($ 185) and Sevis program fee ($ 350), the new $ 250 rate raises the total cost to $ 785. Already asylum applicants, who were previously exempt from payment, will pay a $ 100 fee at the time of the order and an annual additional amount of the same amount while the process is pending.
Cut in the federal deficit and absence of exemption for cases of economic vulnerability
Congress’s budgetary office estimates that this policy can contribute $ 28.9 billion to the reduction of the federal deficit over the next decade. Still, organizations such as the American Immigration Council warn of the social impacts of these changes, especially about vulnerable people, claiming that rates can act as a barrier to access to legal rights, including asylum.
According to the same source, total costs for those seeking protection in the United States may exceed 1150 dollars, which includes registration, additional fees and charges accumulated during the pending process.
Portuguese citizens and other countries with visa exemption are not affected
It should be noted that this measure does not apply to all foreigners. Citizens of more than 40 countries covered by the visa exemption program, as is the case with Portugal, continue to enter the United States for periods less than 90 days without the need for a visa, thus escaping the new rate.
According to the information, the information was updated to clarify that the collection only applies to non -immigrant visas, not to all visitors.
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