Are you a Filipino dreaming of visiting America soon—for vacation, school, work, or business? ✈️🇺🇸
Well, get ready… because there’s a new fee coming your way—and it’s a big one.
🎆 A New Law Signed on America’s Independence Day
Last July 4, while Americans were celebrating their Independence Day with fireworks and hotdogs, their president—Donald Trump—quietly signed a new law called the “Big Beautiful Bill.” 🎇
The law talks about many things for Americans, like taxes and health programs, but one part of the bill caught everyone’s attention in the Philippines.
It’s something called the Visa Integrity Fee.
💸 What Is the Visa Integrity Fee?
If you’re a non-American—like us Filipinos—and you’re applying for a non-immigrant visa (which means you’re visiting, working, or studying in the US temporarily), you’ll now have to pay an extra $250 (that’s ₱14,371) when your visa is approved.
Here’s the kicker:
👉 It cannot be waived.
👉 It cannot be discounted.
👉 And it might get even higher in the future due to inflation.
This fee is on top of what you’re already paying, like:
-
💼 Business/Tourist Visa – $185
-
🎓 Student Visa – $185
-
📸 Media/Journalist Visa – $185
Now, imagine paying all of that plus $250 more.
🌍 Who’s Affected?
If you are:
-
A tourist
-
A student
-
A temporary worker
-
An exchange visitor
-
A journalist traveling for work
… then yes, this new fee applies to you.
Filipinos usually spend a lot already just to visit the US—visa fees, plane tickets, travel insurance, hotels, food, and transport. And now, there’s one more mandatory cost.
✈️ Who’s Safe from the Fee?
Some countries don’t need visas to enter the US, thanks to something called the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). People from these countries are exempt from the new $250 fee.
Countries in this lucky group include:
-
🇯🇵 Japan
-
🇸🇬 Singapore
-
🇰🇷 South Korea
-
🇹🇼 Taiwan
-
🇦🇺 Australia
-
🇳🇿 New Zealand
-
🇬🇧 Most of Europe
Unfortunately, the Philippines is NOT part of the VWP, so the new fee does apply to us.
🛂 Why Is the U.S. Doing This?
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the new law is meant to help fix problems in their immigration system and make sure visitors follow the rules.
They also said it will require careful planning and cooperation between agencies before it’s fully enforced.
📢 So What Should Filipinos Do?
If you’re planning to visit the US soon, get ready to pay more.
This change could affect students, OFWs, and families saving up for a vacation.
And since this new Trump-signed fee is already official, there’s no way to avoid it once it’s in effect.
