Athira Sethu
Kochi, 22 Sep 2025
The United States has long been the number-one destination for years for Indian travelers visiting for business, education, or tourism. Increasing visa prices, though, are now giving many Indians pause about making their trips. With costs still rising, an ever-growing number of people are looking elsewhere to other, less expensive places in the world.
Why Are Visa Fees Going Up?
The recent hike in US visa charges has surprised many Indian tourists. The US government, led by President Trump, increased the fee for applying for an H-1B visa from $1,000 to $100,000. The hike in this fee will come into effect for new visa applications in March-April 2026. The US also added a new “Visa Integrity Fee” of $250 to the majority of non-immigrant visa categories such as tourist, student, and work visas. This has increased the price of an average tourist visa from Rs 16,000 to Rs 38,000, nearly doubling.
How Is This Impacting Travel to the US?
The steep rise in visa charges has prompted several Indians to reconsider their plans to travel to the US. Govind Gaur, chief executive of WanderOn, said the uncertainty that this change has generated has sent panic among travelers. Several individuals have hurried to get US visas prior to the imposition of the higher charges. This has resulted in a dip in demand for travel to the US. As per travel agents, the inflow of Indians into the US is down already by 8–15% from last year.
With such increased expenses and more complex visa procedures, most tourists are now looking at alternative options that are less costly and easier to visit. European countries, Southeast Asian nations, as well as Japan and South Korea, are now more appealing options for Indian visitors. These places provide affordable travel experiences without the inconvenience of increasing visa prices.
Is America Losing Its Appeal
The Indian arrivals in the US have been dropping steadily. In June 2025, just 2.1 lakh Indians came to the US from India, compared to 2.3 lakh Indians in June 2024. This is the first time in years that the US has witnessed such a drop in Indian tourists. The increase in the visa fee, tightened visa processing, and international economic forces are all behind this trend. Though the US remains a favorite destination among students and for family vacations, increasing visa costs are making tourism less desirable.
Where Are Indians Going Instead?
With travel to the US becoming increasingly costly, most Indians are opting for other destinations. The UK, Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia are all witnessing growing demand from Indian tourists. The UAE, too, is an increasingly popular option because it is easily accessible and less costly. With visa costs and uncertainty rising for the US, Indians increasingly find these simpler and cheaper routes to travel.
