U.S. border crossing could impose a new $250 charge for Canadian residents, workers, and citizens
The U.S. government has announced plans to implement a new Visa Integrity Fee, effective late 2022. This fee, which forms part of the H.R.1 Act, also known as One Big Beautiful Bill, aims to enhance the integrity of the U.S. visa system.
The Visa Integrity Fee will apply to any alien issued a non-immigrant visa, with the exception of certain categories. Government or diplomatic travellers (A, G, or NATO visa categories) are exempt, as are fiancées of U.S. citizens (K-1 and K-2 visas), spouses and children of U.S. citizens immigrating to the U.S. (K-3 and K-4 visas), and Australian treaty workers' spouses and children (E-3D).
Individuals providing critical information to U.S. law enforcement or intelligence agencies (S-5, S-6, and S-7 visas) are also exempt from the fee. Additionally, diplomats, representatives of international organisations, and some visa applicants under specific agreements or statuses may also be exempt, although the exact eligible groups depend on current U.S. regulations.
The Visa Integrity Fee for non-immigrant U.S. visas will be set at 250 USD. However, applicants from non-waiver countries, such as China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Brazil, will have to pay this fee. Canadian citizens are generally exempt from requiring a visa to travel to the U.S., but will be impacted if they apply for specific work or student visas (H1-B or F-1). Canadian permanent residents and temporary residents from countries requiring a U.S. non-immigrant visa will also be affected.
The fee's implementation date is expected to be late 2025. The U.S. government has not shared details about the refund process and when it will be operational. However, the fee is not refundable, but applicants may be eligible for reimbursement under certain conditions.
Non-immigrant visa categories affected include tourist and business (B-1/B-2), student (F/M), work (H-1B/H-4), and exchange visas (J). Canadian citizens may also need non-immigrant visas in certain situations, such as when traveling for specific work or study purposes.
The act was signed into law on July 4, 2022. The new Visa Integrity Fee is expected to generate funds for the U.S. government to improve the efficiency and security of the visa system. The exact impact of the fee on visa applicants and the U.S. immigration process remains to be seen.
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