New I-94 and ESTA Fees Take Effect for Travelers

At the start of each U.S. fiscal year, new budget and immigration provisions often kick in. This year, several new fees took effect on September 30, 2025, impacting travelers at land borders, Visa Waiver Program applicants, and those required to enroll in the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS).

If you’re planning cross-border travel or managing employees who frequently enter the U.S., it’s important to understand these changes and prepare accordingly.

What’s Changing

‍Form I-94 (land border entries)

• Previous fee: $6
• New fee: $30
• Applies only at land border ports of entry (not air or sea).

ESTA (Visa Waiver Program)

• Previous fee: $21
• New fee: $40
• Applies to all travelers under the Visa Waiver Program.
• Applications submitted and paid before Sept. 30 remain at $21.
• ESTA approvals are valid for two years.

EVUS (Electronic Visa Update System)

• Previous fee: $0 (free since its launch in 2016)
• New fee: $30
• Applies to Chinese nationals with 10-year B1/B2 visas.

Annual Adjustments (FY 2026 and beyond)

• All three fees — I-94, ESTA, and EVUS — will be indexed to inflation.
• Increases will be based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each fiscal year.

Why Now?

The timing is tied to the federal fiscal calendar. U.S. government fiscal years run October 1 – September 30. That’s why the new fees were implemented at the close of FY 2025, effective September 30.

Impacts for Travelers

• Land border entries are more expensive. Anyone entering by land now pays $30 for an I-94, up from $6. Air and sea entries are unaffected.
• ESTA is nearly double the cost. The fee increased from $21 to $40. Submitting and paying before September 30 locked in the lower rate, and approvals remain valid for two years.
• EVUS now has a fee. Chinese nationals with 10-year B1/B2 visas must pay $30 to enroll or renew EVUS, which had been free since its launch in 2016.

What This Means for Employers

For companies with cross-border employees, these new fees mean higher travel costs. Frequent land border entries, common for TN visa holders from Canada and Mexico, now cost $30 per trip, up from $6. That can add up quickly for employees who cross often.

Employers should also update their internal travel instructions. HR teams and mobility managers need to make sure employees are aware of the new I-94 and ESTA fees before traveling. This is especially important for those in onboarding or rotational assignments.

Budgeting is another consideration. Relocation packages, per diem allowances, and immigration budgets should account for these higher fees. Even small increases can become significant when applied across multiple employees or frequent trips.

Finally, timing matters. Since ESTA approvals last two years, employers can save costs by encouraging staff to apply before fee increases take effect in future cycles. Early applications lock in the lower fee and reduce administrative headaches later.

Action Items

1. Audit travel plans: Identify employees or travelers crossing land borders or requiring ESTA/EVUS.
2. Update guidance: Revise travel packets, onboarding instructions, and immigration SOPs with the new fees.
3. Budget accordingly: Factor recurring I-94 and ESTA costs into relocation and travel budgets.
4. Encourage early applications: Applying for ESTA before fee increases helps lock in lower costs for two years.
5. Monitor annual changes: All three fees will rise annually with inflation starting FY 2026.

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