Travellers from non-immigrant visa categories heading to the US will soon face an additional charge of US$250, as the newly-introduced Visa Integrity Fee comes into effect from October 1, 2025.
Introduced under the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law by the Trump Administration on July 4, the fee applies to nationals of non-visa waiver countries, including India, China, and select Asian. and Middle Eastern nations.
The announcement has drawn a measured response from India’s event planners, who acknowledge both the economic and strategic implications for outbound business travel.
Jude D’Souza, FCM Meetings & Events leader, India, believes the impact on corporate travel will be minimal.
He explained: “Corporates often have larger travel budgets compared to individual travellers. A fee increase or an additional charge such as a visa fee or travel surcharge may not drastically alter their plans, especially if the overall package remains lucrative and within their budget limits.”
He noted that with US trips averaging US$4,000 to 5,000 per person, the new charge is marginal. Furthermore, changing a planned destination could result in logistical setbacks and added costs, which would outweigh the fee itself.
FCM’s D’Souza emphasised that the US continues to offer unmatched business value, from global networking to high-level incentive experiences, justifying marginal cost increases.
“Companies often view these expenses as strategic investments. The value derived from hosting or attending events in the US often surpasses the concern of slightly higher costs,” he added.
However, Louis D’Souza, managing partner at Tamarind Global, struck a more cautious tone.
“The US has always been a favoured destination for innovation summits, global conventions, and incentive schemes,” he acknowledged. “But organisations might begin reevaluating the ROI of events held in the US, particularly when more affordable options exist in the Middle East, South-east Asia, or Europe.”
He pointed out that the additional cost, when combined with other expenses like flights, accommodation, insurance, and visa processing, could deter startups and mid-sized firms from choosing the US for corporate events.
“Mid-tier incentive programmes and educational tours may see delays or reevaluation. Planners will need to design thoughtful itineraries that offer high value while managing rising costs,” he advised.
The Visa Integrity Fee, while described as a refundable compliance bond, currently lacks clarity regarding its refund mechanism. It will be added to the existing structure of US visa charges, which includes the Machine Readable Visa fee, reciprocity fees, and anti-fraud surcharges.
