Brazilian travellers received welcome news on 26 October 2025 when FolhaPress reported that the United States has temporarily suspended the planned US$250 ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ for non-immigrant applicants. The fee—approved by the US Congress in July and scheduled to take effect on 1 October—had triggered concerns among Brazilian tourists, students and assignees who already pay a US$185 application fee.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, congressional negotiations led to a pause while lawmakers reassess the measure’s impact on inbound tourism ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted partly in the United States. The suspension is not final: the fee could still take effect if a long-term budget compromise is not reached.
For global mobility teams this reprieve removes an immediate cost and administrative hurdle. Employers should nonetheless prepare contingencies: the fee might be reintroduced with minimal notice, forcing recalculations of assignment budgets and potential reimbursement policies for employees.
Companies should also continue to monitor interview-wait times, as the US Consulate General in São Paulo still has backlogs exceeding eight months for first-time B-1/B-2 applicants. Where travel cannot be postponed, organisations may prefer to divert travellers through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) if dual nationality permits, or shift meetings to virtual platforms.
The episode underscores how immigration charges can become political bargaining chips, reminding businesses to maintain flexible budget lines for government-imposed fees.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, congressional negotiations led to a pause while lawmakers reassess the measure’s impact on inbound tourism ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted partly in the United States. The suspension is not final: the fee could still take effect if a long-term budget compromise is not reached.
For global mobility teams this reprieve removes an immediate cost and administrative hurdle. Employers should nonetheless prepare contingencies: the fee might be reintroduced with minimal notice, forcing recalculations of assignment budgets and potential reimbursement policies for employees.
Companies should also continue to monitor interview-wait times, as the US Consulate General in São Paulo still has backlogs exceeding eight months for first-time B-1/B-2 applicants. Where travel cannot be postponed, organisations may prefer to divert travellers through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) if dual nationality permits, or shift meetings to virtual platforms.
The episode underscores how immigration charges can become political bargaining chips, reminding businesses to maintain flexible budget lines for government-imposed fees.
