USVisaPolicy

Looks like the State Dept just killed off “embassy shopping.” From now on, all non-immigrant visa interviews have to be done in your home country (or where you legally live). No more hopping to a country with shorter wait times.

I was planning a trip when I saw this about Increased Visa Fees, and it immediately reminded me of my experiences navigating international visa costs. The new $250 visa integrity fee starting October 1st that brings the total to $442 is giving me flashbacks to when I used to...

Just read about the new visa integrity fee and it got me thinking about my recent stays at US hotels. I've been hosting friends from abroad pretty regularly, and this $250 fee coming in October 2025 is definitely going to impact how we plan future visits. Having helped several...

Just had a big family reunion in Florida with relatives flying in from overseas. Reading about this new $250 visa fee (starting Oct 2025), I couldn’t help but think how much extra that would’ve added to the trip. Hotels were already pricey enough. When I plan group trips, I...

Just saw the State Department might require visa applicants from certain countries to post a bond of up to $15,000 to visit the US. The 12-month pilot would apply to business and tourist visas, targeting nations with high overstay rates or weak document vetting. The bond could...