U.S. Customs and Border Protection on May 26 will increase the fee it levies on inbound international travelers from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program to $17 from $10, according to a notice in the Federal Register. The fee does not include a $4 administrative fee.
A CBP spokesperson confirmed to BTN via email that the new fee will take effect on May 26 at 5 p.m. Eastern.
The fee is for the use of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a system established in 2009 that allows business travelers and others coming from the 40 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program to enter for stays of up to 90 days without a visa. CBP uses ESTA to assess whether inbound travelers are eligible for visa-free entry, and each authorization is eligible for two years.
The new fee also was extended to 2027, according to the notice.
Part of the proceeds of the fee fund Brand USA, a public-private entity that promotes U.S. visitation.
Source: Business Travel News