India, Nov. 23 -- The United States is set to increase various travel and immigration fees starting January 1, 2026, as part of an annual adjustment related to inflation. This decision is in accordance with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), which mandates the Department of Homeland Security to modify specific fees on an annual basis.

The adjustments pertain to the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and the parole fee applicable to non-citizens permitted entry into the country for a brief period.

While the recent adjustments to fees (EVUS, ESTA, parole) may not influence every Indian visa applicant (for example, a significant number of Indians do not utilize the Visa Waiver P...