US visa fees to spike under Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful’ law

Jamaicans seeking to travel to the United States (US) on a visitor, student or work visa will now face a steep increase in the fees charged by the American government.

As set out in the newly signed-into-law ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, Jamaicans wanting to visit the US will now have to pay an extra US$250 on top of the regular fee of US$185, significantly increasing the fee for a visa.

A Jamaican family wanting to visit the US must now therefore pay a total of US$435 per person.

The $250 surcharge on all non-immigrant visas issued by the US (tourist visas, student visas, work visas, etc) is referred to as a visa integrity fee and will be collected by the Department of Homeland Security at visa issuance. It will also be adjusted annually and generally will not be waived.

However, a provision in the law allows the refund of the US$250 to visa holders who comply fully with their visa terms – i.e. who do not overstay or violate status and depart on time. If a visa holder leaves the US within five days of their visa expiring (or changes to a green card legally), they can apply to get the US$250 back.

While law-abiding visitors can theoretically reclaim the US$250 upon returning home, the process for reimbursement is unspecified and could be burdensome, meaning, many may never pursue it, effectively making it a collected fee.

Immigration advocates have described the fee as both a bond and a penalty, aimed at discouraging visa overstays. Compliant travellers who go back home on time essentially post a $250 ‘security deposit’ to enter the US.

IMPACT

Irwine Clare, head of Queens-based Caribbean Immigration Services, told The Gleaner that the new fee could have an impact on Jamaican entertainers, athletes and businesspeople who will have to travel to the US.

He also said students would face additional fees to travel to the US.

“The surcharge fee is an additional charge to students, businesspeople, athletes and others who desire to travel to the United States. It could have the effect of reducing the numbers of Jamaicans who want to travel to the United States,” he said.

Clare also pointed out that this could also have an impact on remittances to Jamaica, not only in the form of money, but education, healthcare and other areas.

He said he believes the fees could force Jamaicans to look elsewhere for schools and work, instead of the US.

“Family visits will also be impacted as the fees kick in,” he told The Gleaner.

Immigration attorney Winston Tucker told The Gleaner that the fee could be disruptive to Jamaicans who want to travel to the US to visit family and for other reasons.

“It is all designed to be disruptive,” he said.

Tucker sees the new fee as potentially reducing the number of people who want to travel to the US for pleasure or as students.

“We will have to wait to see how the process plays out as, so far, no timeline has been outlined for collecting these new fees,” he said.

Tucker also pointed out that immigration court fees have been increased by the new law and this could lead to less people fighting immigration matters in court.

PENALTY FEE

For those who don’t depart on time (over stayers), the US will keep their US$250 as a penalty. This creates an extra financial incentive to leave as required. However, critics note it also penalises honest travellers by making US visas more expensive, and potentially reduces US travel demand from Caribbean countries and could impact airlines, tourism, and shopping in US.

The law also contains a suite of immigration-related provisions that tighten asylum rules, impose new fees for asylum-seekers, and boost enforcement.

These changes will impact Caribbean immigrant communities in multiple ways – from higher costs to seek legal status to harsher enforcement targeting undocumented or asylum-seeking individuals.

For the first time in US history, applying for asylum will come with a mandatory fee. The bill directs DHS or the Department of Justice to charge each asylum applicant an initial fee of US$100 or more upon filing the application. In 2025, the fee is set at US$100 or a higher amount set by regulation, and it will be indexed to inflation annually thereafter. No fee waivers are allowed for inability to pay, meaning even indigent asylum-seekers must pay or be denied an opportunity to apply. Half of the fees will fund immigration courts and the other half, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, to support adjudication of cases.

According to an analysis done, the US$100+ charge creates a financial barrier to asylum. Many Caribbean asylum-seekers are low-income and arrive with few resources. They will now need to produce US$100 at the time of filing – which may delay filing or deter some from seeking asylum at all.

Previously, there was effectively a nil fee for asylum.

In addition to the filing fee, asylum applicants will owe an annual fee of US$100 or more for each year their case is unresolved. This US$100 per year (initially) will also adjust upward with inflation each year, and no waivers are permitted. The money goes to the Treasury.

editorial@gleanerjm.com