US travel fees going up this month

Foreign travellers heading to the United States will soon have to pay more as multiple travel-related fees are being increased later this month. Under President Donald Trump’s administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”, the fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) for citizens of visa waiver countries will rise from $21 to $40 from Sept 30. The list of affected countries includes the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Qatar and most European nations. Currently, over 40 countries participate in the programme. Fees for travellers entering the US via land routes will also increase. The current $6 I-94 arrival/departure record fee will rise to $30 at the end of the month. A new rule for Chinese travellers requires a...