Traveling to the United States is becoming more expensive for Liberians and other Africans as one may have to pay nearly US$500 or more to obtain a visa for non-immigrant applicants, according to a new immigration law passed for by the Trump administration-mostly targeting Liberia and other African countries
The US Embassy in Monrovia confirmed the astronomical hike on Wednesday, attributing it to the introduction of a new $250 “visa integrity fee” that will apply to most nonimmigrant visa applicants from Africa, including Liberians–marking a significant increase in the cost of traveling to the United States.
The fee, enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law on July 4, 2025. It is expected to take effect later this year and will be applied in addition to all existing visa-related charges such as application fees, anti-fraud fees, and reciprocity fees.
The policy, already drawing widespread criticism from immigration advocates and travel stakeholders, is seen as a major barrier to African students, business travelers, tourists, and professionals seeking entry to the United States.
In response to inquiries from this news outlet, Raymond Stephens, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, confirmed through an email that the fee is now law and will be implemented accordingly.
“President Trump is committed to protecting the United States and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” Stephens said.
“The United States Congress enacted the Visa Integrity Fee to support the Administration’s priorities of strengthening immigration enforcement, deterring visa overstays, and funding border security.”
“The Department of Homeland Security is charged with implementing this fee. Any updates to fees will be posted to the visa information page at travel.state.gov.”
According to U.S. immigration legal services provider Envoy Global, the $250 visa integrity fee will apply to nonimmigrant visa applicants from African countries, including those seeking F-1 (student), J-1 (exchange visitor), H-1B (temporary worker), and B1/B2 (business/tourism) visas.
The fee is non-waivable, non-refundable, and not subject to reduction.
This means that a Liberian applying for a U.S. visa may now be required to pay as much as $500 or more when factoring in all required visa charges, not including travel, documentation, and courier expenses.
Despite confirmation from the U.S. Embassy, the Government of Liberia–particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs–has yet to respond publicly to the development, in terms of how it impacts the bilateral relationship between the two countries and what leverage exists to address the impact on Liberian travelers affected by the new U.S. law.
This silence is raising concern among civil society organizations and travel agents, who say the government has an obligation to inform, engage, and possibly negotiate on behalf of its citizens.
“We need clarity from the Liberian government,” said a Monrovia-based immigration consultant.
“Are they engaging the U.S. on this issue? What protections or support mechanisms are being considered for students and families who are now being priced out of opportunity?”
While the visa fee applies broadly to countries not included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), the impact is heavily skewed against Africa, which has no countries eligible under the VWP. In contrast, 42 nations–mostly in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia and the Gulf–are exempt from this new requirement when traveling to the U.S. for less than 90 days.
“This policy perpetuates inequality in global mobility,” said a travel equity advocate in Accra.
“It sends the wrong message: that African travelers must pay more to be welcomed–if at all.”
Critics also argue that there is no clear justification for the fee beyond political rhetoric, and no commitment from the U.S. to use the revenue to improve visa processing, reduce wait times, or expand consular access–issues that have plagued African applicants for years.
Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, condemned the new policy, calling it counterproductive and damaging to international goodwill.
“This is a self-inflicted wound,” Freeman said in a public statement.
“These fees are not reinvested in improving the travel experience and do nothing but discourage visitation–at a time when foreign travelers are already concerned about the welcome experience and high prices.”
The U.S. is preparing to host major global events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and experts say that higher travel costs may lead to lower attendance from African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American countries.
As frustration grows, there are increasing calls for African governments, regional blocs like the African Union and ECOWAS, and civil society organizations to demand explanations and possibly seek reciprocal policies or negotiations.
“This isn’t just about a fee–it’s about respect, access, and equal opportunity,” said a student leader at the University of Liberia.
“We urge our government to take this up diplomatically and advocate for the interests of Liberians.”
Meanwhile, Liberians are still waiting for a response from their government–and hoping that the rising cost of opportunity won’t become another locked gate.
