US Announces Major Hike in Visa and Immigration Fees Effective October 2025

The United States has introduced substantial increases to a wide range of immigration-related fees, including visa applications, border entry forms, and asylum filings, with most changes taking effect from October 2025.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that the fee for the CBP Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, used to document travellers entering at land border ports, will rise from $6 to $30. This new cost includes a $24 surcharge intended to support border infrastructure and operations. The change applies from 30 September 2025.

Travellers entering the US under the Visa Waiver Program will also face higher costs. The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) fee will nearly double, increasing from $21 to $40. Additionally, the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), used mainly by Chinese nationals holding 10-year B1/B2 visitor visas, will introduce a $30 enrolment fee, where previously there was no charge.

A new Visa Integrity Fee of $250 will apply to all immigrant visa applicants from 1 October 2025. According to officials, the fee is aimed at supporting fraud prevention and improving visa security processes. It will be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index.

Applicants for asylum will now be required to pay a $100 fee when submitting Form I-589, the application for asylum and withholding of removal. An additional $100 Annual Asylum Fee will apply for each calendar year the application remains pending. Fees for employment authorisation (Form I-765) have also been revised, with initial applications set at $550 and renewals at $275.

Significant increases have also been applied to non-petition-based visa categories, including B1/B2 visitor visas, F-1 and F-2 student visas, and transit visas. These fees have increased by 148 per cent, although the final amounts are still being clarified due to discrepancies in official documents.

The fee changes were formally announced in the Federal Register on 28 August 2025, giving applicants a limited period to prepare.