Indian travellers planning international trips may need to set aside more money for visa applications this year, as several countries have increased processing fees while appointment delays continue to stretch travel timelines.

The United States has introduced an additional $250 ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ across multiple non-immigrant categories, including tourist, student and work visas, according to Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director at BLS International, which operates visa application centres for various embassies.

Similar fee adjustments are being issued periodically by other governments.

Work and petition-based visas remain costlier than tourist or student visas, owing to higher scrutiny and documentation requirements.

No hidden charges—but optional add-ons come at a price

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