Ghanaians and other travellers planning to visit the United States on non-immigrant visas will soon be required to pay an additional $250, following the implementation of a new U.S. immigration policy introduced under former President Donald Trump’s administration.
The charge, officially called the “Visa Integrity Fee,” is part of a sweeping immigration reform law—the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”—signed into law on July 4, 2025. The policy is scheduled to take effect during the United States’ 2025 fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.
According to a report by The Independent (UK), the fee targets all non-immigrant visa categories, including tourists, students, and temporary workers from countries such as Ghana that do not qualify for the U.S. Visa Waiver Programme.
However, travellers from over 40 visa-waiver countries, such as the UK, Germany, Japan, and Australia, will not be affected by the $250 fee if visiting the U.S. for less than 90 days under an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). The cost of applying for an ESTA, however, is set to nearly double—from $21 to $40.
Details of the New Policy
The new fee is in addition to existing U.S. visa processing charges and increases the Form I-94 fee to $24, raising the total financial burden on international travellers.
As outlined in Section 10007 of the new law:
The visa integrity fee cannot be waived or reduced under any condition.
It is non-refundable, unless the visa holder fully complies with U.S. immigration laws, such as departing the country within five days of visa expiration or adjusting status lawfully.
Violations, such as overstaying or unauthorized employment, will result in forfeiture of the $250 fee.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that although systems are not yet in place to begin collecting the new fee, it will be enforced within the fiscal year. The DHS added that cross-agency coordination is required to ensure smooth implementation.
The fee is also expected to be reviewed and adjusted annually, indexed to inflation.
Implications for Ghanaian Travellers
For many Ghanaians, the added cost comes at a time when the U.S. dollar is strengthening, and visa-related expenses—ranging from application fees, travel insurance, medical exams, to airfare—are already steep.
With the U.S. issuing nearly 11 million non-immigrant visas in 2024, many of them to Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans, the financial impact of this new fee will be significant, especially for students and low-income travellers.
So far, the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has not commented on the policy or its potential implications for visa applicants through the U.S. Embassy in Accra.
