US Announces New Immigration and Travel Fees Starting Sept 30, 2025 Under H.R. 1

(UNITED STATES) The Department of Homeland Security has set September 30, 2025 as the effective date for a sharp set of new immigration fees that will change the cost of visiting the United States for millions of travelers. A Federal Register notice issued on August 28 confirmed the increases, which flow from H.R. 1 (the “One Big Beautiful Bill”).

The rule raises charges tied to three frontline systems many visitors use to enter the country: Form I-94 records at land ports, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for Visa Waiver Program citizens, and the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) for many Chinese visitors. DHS is also preparing a separate $250 “visa integrity fee” for most nonimmigrant visas at consulates abroad, expected as early as October 1, 2025.

What’s changing and who it affects

• Form I-94 (land ports): increases from $6 to $30 (a $24 surcharge).
• ESTA: rises from $21 to $40 (applies to travelers from about 42 Visa Waiver Program countries).
• EVUS: new $30 enrollment fee for holders of Chinese 10‑year B‑1/B‑2 visas.
• Visa integrity fee (consular): forthcoming $250 for many nonimmigrant visa categories (B‑1/B‑2, F‑1, J‑1, many temporary work visas including H‑1B and L‑1). DHS says Visa Waiver Program citizens and most travelers from Canada and Bermuda will be exempt.

These increases are intended to fund system upgrades and border operations. Practically, they will show up in trip budgets: a family of four driving in at a land port could see an extra $96 in Form I-94 charges alone; a European couple flying for a long weekend would pay an extra $38 for two ESTA approvals.

Timing matters: travelers who submit and pay before the effective date will pay current rates; those applying on or after September 30 will see higher prices at checkout.

Changes to USCIS (domestic) filing fees

USCIS implemented fee increases earlier this summer that affect humanitarian and status-related filings:

• Form I-589 (Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal): $100 filing fee; cases pending at fiscal-year-end trigger an additional $100 yearly charge.
• Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization): $550 for initial filings; $275 for certain renewals/extensions.
• Form I-360 (Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant): $250.
• Form I-821 (Application for Temporary Protected Status): rose from $50 to $500.

USCIS says these changes support operations given heavy backlogs and workloads. For families and young people relying on work permits or TPS, these increases add up quickly when layered with travel-related costs.

Practical effects for travelers and sponsors

• ESTA: budget for $40 authorization (valid two years or until passport expiration).
• Form I-94 at land crossings: $30 per person—this may affect frequent visitors from Mexico and Canadian border regions who aren’t exempt.
• EVUS: $30 per required update for Chinese nationals with 10‑year visitor visas.
• Visa integrity fee: if implemented, an added $250 per consular visa applicant (exemptions apply).

Examples:
– A family of five entering by car for a weekend will pay $150 in I-94 fees.
– A startup inviting three engineers on B‑1 visas could see $750 in additional consular charges if the $250 fee applies.
– A university sending 200 exchange students might face tens of thousands of dollars more in fees for a single intake.

Timing and application guidance

Key dates and timing rules:
1. ESTA applications filed before September 30 keep the $21 rate; on or after September 30 the price is $40.
2. Form I-94 land border fee of $30 applies beginning September 30.
3. EVUS enrollments completed on or after September 30 will include the $30 fee.
4. The earliest possible start date for the $250 visa integrity fee is October 1, but DHS has not issued the binding procedural notice.

Applicants with interviews scheduled in late September may avoid the integrity fee if the visa is issued before the fee takes effect; October or later appointments should presume the extra payment unless exempt.

Operational details and what to prepare for

• CBP systems should show the new fee amounts automatically on rollout.
• ESTA’s portal will display $40 as the total (replacing previous fee splits).
• Land border officers will collect $30 for each in-person Form I-94; bring an accepted payment method.
• EVUS online platform will require the $30 payment during enrollment/updates.
• Authorizations obtained before the increase remain valid until they expire (e.g., an ESTA approved before the price increase still works).

Advice and a checklist for travelers and sponsors

Simple steps to reduce surprises:
– Apply early where possible. Submitting ESTA before September 30 locks in $21.
– Budget carefully for cumulative fees: $30 I-94, $40 ESTA, $30 EVUS, and potentially $250 consular fee.
– Verify exemptions (e.g., VWP citizens, many Canadians and Bermudians).
– Save every receipt and screenshot confirmations—proof of payment and appointment matters.
– Ask for guidance from immigration counsel or experienced travel planners.

Broader economic and sector impacts

• International arrivals were already softening: July 2025 showed a 3.1% year-over-year decline.
• Visitor spending, which was about $181 billion in 2024, is projected to fall below $169 billion this year in some industry models.
• Airlines, destination marketing organizations, tour operators, and hospitality sectors worry higher front-end costs may push travelers to other regions.
• With major events ahead (2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosting, 2028 Los Angeles Olympics), industry leaders worry these fees could dampen momentum.

Legal, procedural and planning considerations

• Interview waiver rules matter: more in-person interviews could increase the number charged the visa integrity fee.
• Appointment wait times mean applicants who paid earlier standard fees could still face the new fee if their consular process completes after the fee’s start date.
• Attorneys advise keeping careful records of payments and appointments in case of timing disputes.
• The visa integrity fee applies to consular applications abroad—not to change/extension of status filed with USCIS inside the U.S.

What remains unchanged

• ESTA remains travel authorization, not a visa; entry can still be refused at the border despite an approved ESTA.
• Form I-94 continues as the arrival/departure record; electronic I‑94s at airports/seaports remain unchanged except for the land border fee when issued in person.
• EVUS remains a biographic update system for long-term B‑1/B‑2 visitor records.
• The visa integrity fee, when implemented, is an add-on to existing visa and petition fees—not a replacement.

Resources and official references

• CBP: Arrival/Departure Forms: I‑94 and I‑94W — https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94
• USCIS forms and fee pages:
  • Form I-589 — https://www.uscis.gov/i-589
  • Form I-765 — https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
  • Form I-360 — https://www.uscis.gov/i-360
  • Form I-821 — https://www.uscis.gov/i-821

Important takeaways

Starting September 30, 2025, the cost to enter or seek entry to the United States rises for many routine travelers:
– ESTA: $40
– Land border Form I-94: $30
– EVUS: $30
And as early as October 1, 2025, many consular nonimmigrant visas could carry a $250 add-on (with exemptions).

The policy aims to fund technology and operations, but the near-term impact will be felt by families, students, universities, tour operators, and small businesses. The best mitigations are attention to dates, careful budgeting, confirming exemptions, and keeping meticulous records to avoid unexpected costs or timing disputes.