A new visa-related charge imposed by the United States is set to affect thousands of travellers from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), including citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis, as the U.S. government introduces a controversial Visa Integrity Fee starting on 1st October, 2025.
The measure, introduced under the Trump administration’s recently enacted domestic policy bill, mandates a non-waivable, refundable security deposit of at least USD $250 for all international visitors who require a nonimmigrant visa to enter the United States. This includes travellers from St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — none of which are part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
The new fee is in addition to existing visa application charges and will apply to various categories, including tourists, business visitors, students, and temporary workers. According to U.S. authorities, the move is aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement, deterring visa overstays, and funding border security.
For OECS citizens, this new policy represents a significant increase in the cost of U.S. travel, with total upfront charges potentially exceeding USD $400, depending on visa type. While the Department of Homeland Security has described the fee as refundable upon successful completion of travel without any immigration violations, the mechanism for refunds remains unclear, sparking concerns from immigration experts and travel advocacy groups.
Travellers from St. Kitts and Nevis, many of whom maintain strong familial, educational, and economic ties with the United States, are expected to feel the impact of this change. “It raises the financial barrier for OECS nationals who regularly travel to the U.S. for holidays, medical visits, and business. Even if technically refundable, it adds complexity and cost that could discourage travel,” said an OECS-based travel consultant.
Citizens of countries in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program — such as those from most of the European Union — will not be subject to the integrity fee but will face an increase in their Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee, expected to rise from USD $21 to at least USD $40.
The U.S. Travel Association, a leading industry group, criticised the measure as “a giant leap backwards” for international travel, warning that the 144% increase in upfront visa costs could have a chilling effect on U.S. inbound tourism.
Despite criticism, the fee is likely to proceed through a formal rulemaking process and will be subject to annual inflation adjustments. Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and State Department say further details, including refund procedures, will be published on the official visa information page in due course.
OECS governments have yet to issue formal responses, but regional travel and migration experts are urging authorities to engage in dialogue with U.S. officials to seek exemptions or reconsideration for countries with historically high visa compliance.
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