A U.S. consular official is urging applicants, especially those wanting to attend next year’s World Cup, to renew their tourist visas immediately to avoid a forthcoming $250 fee increase and long processing times, which currently average 100 days.
The cost of obtaining a coveted U.S. tourist visa (B-1/B-2) is scheduled to increase significantly due to a new $250 “visa integrity fee” provision included in President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” raising the total cost to $435 when implemented. Despite the fee not yet being enacted (it was originally planned for October 1), the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana is already seeing a “high demand,” processing approximately 1,000 appointments daily, with current wait times averaging 100 days. The U.S. Consul General in Tijuana, Christopher Teal, strongly advised applicants, particularly those planning to travel for the World Cup next year or those needing renewal, to submit their applications now to avoid the pending cost hike and the likely surge in demand once the fee takes effect.
While the fee is theoretically refundable for those who comply with visa rules, the specifics of the reimbursement process remain unclear.