As the October 1 deadline for the US’s visa integrity fee nears, many agents are left with unanswered questions about its process and implementation.
In July, the US government announced a US$250 (R4 408) visa integrity fee for nearly all non-immigrant visa categories, to encourage travellers to adhere to their visa conditions. It will be charged in addition to the visa fees already in place and may be reimbursed if travellers comply with all conditions of their applied visa.
“They say it is intended as a security deposit to ensure compliance with US immigration laws. Travellers who follow the rules of their visa may be able to get the fee reimbursed, though the process for this is not yet detailed,” said Sarah Margison, Manager of Harvey World Travel Shelly Beach.
No details have been forthcoming regarding the fee’s implementation, with some reports indicating it could be collected during the visa application and added to the visa fees.
“What will happen when the visa gets denied. Do you lose that fee as well as the visa fee?” said Margison. “It is a 10-year visa so when will they refund you, after the 10 years? If they are going to implement this, charge it as a refundable deposit on arrival perhaps?”
Euan McNeil, MD of Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa, said they were still assessing the full implications of the US visa integrity fee. “It is certainly an interesting development – quite new for the industry. There hasn’t been sufficient clarity yet. Many industry players are still seeking detailed information about exactly how and when this fee will come into effect for South African applicants,” said McNeil.
“As an agent, we have no communication from any country with regards to new things that are implemented. We just have to use an IATA website, or Sherpa as guidance on new regulations. I don't even know where to go to for this fee that they're implementing,” said Leigh Mitchell of Travel4Fun.
During her search on Sherpa for South African passports to New York on October 8, Mitchell did not find any information on the new fee. “It comes up with recommended travel declaration, and that I need a visa, but there's no information about the fee being needed.”
Travel impact
The fee could further impact travel to the US, which has already been on the decline this year.
“Right now, we’ve seen volumes to the US drop across both corporate and leisure segments, but it would be oversimplified to say this is solely due to visa changes or extra fees,” said McNeil. He said the additional cost might deter some price-sensitive leisure travellers; however, business travellers would keep travelling unless the process became “prohibitive”.
Margison believes the fee will deter leisure travellers. “Those that have family or business there will have no choice but to pay but those looking for a holiday may think twice. It is making the initial total visa cost over R8 000 per person. Imagine a family of four. They charge it in full per child.” She said it was something she would have to warn clients about when they were considering a US holiday.
“It is the travellers who got visas and never returned that are now making it difficult and expensive for the rest of the genuine travellers and, unfortunately, if the US starts to charge this fee and it becomes successful, we may start seeing other countries do the same.”
