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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin charging higher fees for several travel- and entry-related services on Sept. 30, 2025, the agency said in a Federal Register notice published Aug. 28.
The changes implement the fee amounts set by Congress in the recently enacted "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", a key part of President Donald Trump's domestic agenda.
Why It Matters
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), used by travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, will see its minimum fee rise from $21 to $40—an increase of about 90 percent. CBP will begin charging the new fee on Sept. 30; travelers who submit an ESTA application before that date will still pay the current $21.
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ESTA is the mandatory online travel authorization for nationals of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, including most EU member states, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. It allows eligible travelers to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days for tourism or business without obtaining a traditional visa.
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What To Know
Effective Sept. 2, the Department of State will narrow the categories of applicants eligible for a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa interview. Under the updated policy, most applicants—including those under the age of 14 and over the age of 79—will generally need to attend an in-person interview with a consular officer.
Exemptions apply to certain categories, including diplomatic and official visas (A, G, NATO classifications), as well as applicants renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2, or B-1/B-2 visa or a Border Crossing Card within 12 months of expiration, provided specific conditions are met. Consular officers retain discretion to require interviews on a case-by-case basis.
The cost of form I-94, required for land-border entries, will increase from $6 to $30, reflecting the addition of the statutory HR-1 fee. Air and sea I-94s are not affected. Meanwhile, the EVUS system, used by Chinese citizens holding 10-year B visas, will now charge $30 for enrollment.
The I-94 form is primarily used for travelers arriving at U.S. land borders from Canada or Mexico. EVUS, by contrast, is an online update system that Chinese passport holders with long-term visitor visas must complete periodically before traveling.
An approved ESTA remains valid for two years or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first. The system is used by millions of travelers each year—around 15-18 million according to CBP and Department of Homeland Security data—allowing short-term visits to the U.S. without a visa under certain conditions.
An approved ESTA is generally valid for two years or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first; a separate ESTA must be obtained (and the fee paid) if the prior authorization or passport expires.
What People Are Saying
Travel - State Dept wrote in a post on X: "Starting September 2, 2025, nonimmigrant visa applicants in most visa categories, including those who are renewing, will be required to attend an in-person interview with a consular officer."
What Happens Next
CBP's Federal Register notice—published Aug. 28 and titled "CBP Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 for Fiscal Year 2025"—details the new fees and confirms the start date of Sept. 30, 2025.
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