The United States squeezes the screws of the entry conditions in its territory again. That should not help for tourism. In fact, the new measures are part of the “big and beautiful” budget law recently promulgated by the Trump administration. The first refers to this (electronic travel authorization) necessary for visitors who do not need a visa to enter the country, especially the French.
The costs to obtain sesame will fall from $ 21 to 40 next year. The price is broken down as follows: $ 17 “travel promotion rate” to which a new $ 13 and 10 supplement is added in processing rates introduced by law. This increase should allow to invest in the modernization of American airspace, the formation of customs agents or the installation of more biometric porches in airports.
“Visa Integrity Rate”
But that’s not all. New costs will be applied to those who need a visa, reveals CNBC. The law presents a new “visa integrity rate” for these travelers who cannot benefit from the visa exemption program with this, which includes tourists, but especially business travelers and international students. Therefore, they do not concern European tourists and, therefore, French.
The details related to this new requirement, in particular its precise date of implementation, are not yet known, which leads to “important challenges and unanswered questions about its implementation,” said a spokesman for the American Travel Association in CNBC Travel.
However, according to US media, these costs will amount to at least $ 250 because the National Secretary of Security is free to establish higher costs. From then on, they will adjust according to inflation. The costs will be paid when the visa is issued and added to the other costs, including the usual costs of the visa.
But these 250 dollars will be reimbursable, after the expiration of the travel visa.
“New unjustified taxes”
This measure is part of the Trump administration arsenal to combat illegal work. It is estimated that 42% of approximately 11 million undocumented people living in the United States have legally entered the United States with a provisional tourist visa.
While the country sees that their number of tourists falls and prepares for the main world events, such as the World Cup, these new measures concern the tourism sector. In a press release, transmitted by the Tourist Echo, the president of the United States Travel Association, Geoff Freeman, explains that these “new unjustified taxes in foreign visitors” are “difficult to accept.”
Source: BFM TV
