United States Visa and Travel News
As of September 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State has implemented a new rule: nonimmigrant visa applications must now be filed in the applicant’s country of residence or nationality. This measure comes as part of a broader series of recent reforms tightening entry requirements to the United States.
The American dream will cost a little more: authorities have just confirmed that the price of ESTA will increase from $21 to $40 starting September 30, 2025. This is a significant increase that all travelers wishing to visit the US without a visa should anticipate.
Starting September 30, 2025, the fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the U.S. will increase from $21 to $40.
As visa appointment wait times at U.S. embassies stretch into several months in some locations, the Trump administration is reportedly considering a new proposal: a $1,000 fee to expedite access to tourist visa interviews.
President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation restricting entry into the United States for nationals of multiple countries. Framed as a response to security threats, the measure imposes a full entry ban on 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others.
Travelers heading to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program must now meet a new requirement when submitting their ESTA application online.
Congress is currently reviewing a proposal that would nearly double the cost of the ESTA, the essential travel authorization required for visa-exempt visitors to the United States. The measure, assessed by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), still needs to go through several legislative steps before it can take effect.
As soon as he took office, Donald Trump reinstated Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This decision blocks access to ESTA for travelers who had visited the island, forcing them to go through a more complex visa process.
The removal of Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism paves the way for more peaceful diplomatic relations and simplifies procedures for travelers who have visited the island since 2021.
Qatar officially joins the US Visa Waiver Program this November 22, 2024. Qataris can now apply for ESTA authorization to travel to the USA.
Election day in the US, but defection for travelers heading to Uncle Sam’s country after a breakdown in the ESTA system.
In the last fiscal year, the United States issued over 11 million visas, including 8.5 million visitor visas.
“No later than December 1, 2024”, Qatar will become the 42nd country included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and ESTA electronic travel authorization system.
For citizens of certain countries, it may already be too late to obtain a visa to enter the United States to attend the 2026 Soccer World Cup.
