Travelling to the United States is about to get even more expensive for many Canadian travellers, thanks to the Trump Administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Starting October 1, 2025, the U.S. will implement a new “Visa Integrity Fee” as part of immigration policy changes, which will apply to non-immigrant visa applicants. This includes Canadian permanent residents and temporary residents who require a visa to visit the U.S. Canadian citizens will be exempt from paying the fee.
The Visa Integrity Fee is expected to cost $250 USD which converts approximately to $342 CAD. This fee is in addition to the standard $185 USD ($253 CAD) non-refundable U.S. visa application fee, coming to a total of just under $600 CAD.
Applicants will need to pay the new fee at the time their visa is issued, with no waivers or discounts available. However, visitors who do not overstay their visa, do not work illegally, or who later gain U.S. permanent residency may qualify for a reimbursement.
In addition to the new fee, several other policy changes are being rolled out, including facial recognition technology at certain land border crossings to better track visa overstays. Also, as of April 11, 2025, Canadians planning to stay in the U.S. for more than 30 days will need to complete an alien registration form, with some individuals also required to undergo fingerprinting.
If you’re a non-citizen in Canada considering a trip to the U.S., now may be the time to go before these new fees and requirements come into effect!