New Ksh.32K visa fee risks deepening US travel slump

In China, arrivals have remained muted since the pandemic, with July numbers still 53% below 2019 levels. The visa fee also threatens travel from India, where visits are down 2.4% so far this year, driven by a near 18% drop in students.

For some, the rise in fees will be absorbed as just another cost in an already expensive trip to the U.S.

“The U.S. has always been selective about its visitors. If your financial standing isn’t up to par, getting a visa is tough anyway,” said Su Shu, founder of Chinese firm Moment Travel in Chengdu.

As foreign visitors face higher entry fees, U.S. travelers worry about stricter requirements being imposed abroad, said James Kitchen, travel agent and owner of Seas 2 Day & Travel.

“Travelers have expressed concern around reciprocal fees that may be imposed in the coming months,” Kitchen said.

1 UD = Ksh.129.50

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}