Visa Fees

Trump’s Visa Fees Hurt Rural Healthcare: Closing Doors on Foreign Doctors

The arrival of a new nephrologist in Shelby, North Carolina, anticipated to alleviate the workload of local kidney doctors, was expected this fall. Patients were already booked to see the incoming specialist. However, the details of the incoming doctor’s arrival and the reasons for the delayed arrival are not mentioned in this section of the article. Therefore, the effect on patients and the medical staff is still unknown.

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US Visa Integrity Fee: $250 and Rising Concerns

As part of a newly enacted domestic policy bill, the United States will impose a “visa integrity fee” of at least $250 on international visitors requiring nonimmigrant visas, including tourists and business travelers. This fee, which is in addition to existing visa application costs, could significantly increase the cost of visiting the U.S., and is not required for countries under the Visa Waiver Program. While the fee is technically reimbursable after the trip, the mechanism for reimbursement and specifics of the policy’s rollout are currently unclear. The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have not yet released further details of the program, but the U.S. Travel Association has already criticized the new fee, calling it a barrier to international visitors.

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