The One Big Beautiful Bill Leaves Travelers With Heavier Wallet Load

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-09-06 13:55:22 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-06 16:48:58

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Trump's new regulations mean US entry fees will rise, leaving many tourists and researchers saddled with these heavier costs.

Rising entry costs to the United States are leaving travelers whether they're coming for business, pleasure, or research with a less welcoming fiscal welcome mat at borders. Under the Trump administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill" policy, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fees are set to double from the current $14 to $40. The new system would also introduce fees for Land Border Crossing Cards and visas for Chinese citizens. The US Travel Association has estimated the new fees would affect nearly 15,000 flights and another 16,000 cruise ship voyages, saddling travelers with upwards of $300 million in additional fees annually.

This comes at a time when many US embassies and consulates have been slowly inching up their fees in recent years, with some destinations now charging as much as $500 for visa applications. Previous waivers for some nationalities to enter the US under the ESTA program have also been scaled back.

The kicker comes amid a ongoing congressional debate over whether to raise fees for visa applicants from Mexico and Canada as a way to pay for President Trump's border wall. While Congress has so far resisted those measures, the Trump administration has found a way to significantly increase travel costs for many visitors. Whether traveling for business or research, tourists would be well advised to factor in these additional costs when planning their trips or academic journeys.

The new fees are expected to go into effect in the coming weeks, so anyone currently planning a trip to the US may want to consider applying for their ESTA authorization before the price hike.

Quoted: "The fees are going up for everyone, and that's regressive, but then they're also going up disproportionately for some people compared to others, and that's discriminatory," said David Landau, a lawyer who specializes in federal litigation involving travel and the travel industry, speaking to CNN.

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