TRUMP ADMIN SLAPS $250 'VISA INTEGRITY' FEE AS ARRIVALS FALL; BOND PILOT, STUDENT VISA LIMITS SIGNAL IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN

The U.S. will add a $250 "visa integrity fee" on Oct. 1, raising total visa costs to $442 and likely deterring travelers from non-visa-waiver countries such as Mexico, Argentina, India, Brazil and China. Overseas arrivals fell 3.1% year-on-year in July, the fifth monthly decline in 2025, undermining expectations of a post-pandemic rebound and threatening international visitor spending. Industry groups and travel experts warn the fee, together with proposed visa bonds and tighter visa durations, could further depress tourism and harm the travel industry, particularly in Central and South America. While Mexico and parts of South America had shown growth earlier in 2025, arrivals from China remain well below pre-pandemic levels and student travel from India has dropped. Observers say the fee compounds a perception that U.S. policy is becoming less welcoming and could prompt reciprocal measures that further reduce visitor numbers.