Canadians just got slapped with a visa integrity fee to enter the U.S.

On the heels of a Canadian tourism ad campaign welcoming U.S. visitors to Quebec, Canadians and others are faced with more fees if they plan on staying in America for longer.

The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act under the Trump administration includes a provision requiring certain travellers to pay a $250 “visa integrity fee” to enter the country.

And that’s not it: the fee is subject to change, and could be adjusted due to inflation.

According to the White House, the act outlines a plan to strengthen U.S. border security by providing Homeland Security with necessary resources, including increased funding for ICE agents, detention centres, and the completion of the border wall.

The “visa integrity fee” is intended to support enforcement and administrative measures tied to U.S. visa policy and border protection.

Another travel policy previously introduced by the Trump administration—the alien registration requirement for foreign nationals—was later amended to exempt most Canadians from fingerprinting. 

According to the Canadian federal government, Canadians generally do not need visitor, business, transit, or other visas to enter the United States from Canada.

Will Canadians have to pay the visa integrity fee?

Canadians travelling to the U.S. who apply for specific nonimmigrant visas (H-1B or F-1, for example) will be required to pay the $250 fee.

What is the visa integrity fee?

The visa integrity fee is a required $250 charge for non-immigrant visa applicants, added on top of all other standard visa-related fees.

When will the visa integrity fee go into effect?

While the act has been signed, there is still no start date.

Do I need a visa to enter the USA from Canada?

The U.S. Department of State outlines several cases where Canadians are required to obtain nonimmigrant visas to travel to the United States.

Reasons Canadians May Need a Nonimmigrant Visa:

• Foreign government officials (A); officials and employees of international organizations (G); and NATO officials, representatives, and employees assigned to the U.S. (NATO)
  
  
• Treaty traders (E‑1)
  
  
• Treaty investors (E‑2)
  
  
• Spouse or child of an Australian treaty alien entering the U.S. to work in a specialty occupation (E‑3D)
  
  
• Fiancé(e)s (K‑1) and their children (K‑2)
  
  
• Spouse of a U.S. citizen traveling to complete the immigration process (K‑3) and their children (K‑4)
  
  
• Informants providing critical information on criminal organizations (S‑5) or terrorism (S‑6), and qualified family members (S‑7) of such visa holders

For updated information about visa requirements for citizens and permanent residents of Canada, click here.
 

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