# Plain Language Summary: FIRM Act of 2025

This bill would increase visa fees for people from certain countries who want to visit the United States temporarily on a tourist, business, or student visa. Specifically, it targets nationals from countries that the U.S. government has identified as problematic in three particular ways: countries that refuse to take back their own citizens when the U.S. tries to deport them, countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, or countries ranked as tier 3 (worst performers) in human trafficking by the State Department.

The fee increases would be tiered based on how many of these problems a country has. If a country meets just one of these criteria, visa fees would jump up by at least 50 percent. If it meets two criteria, fees would at least double. If it meets all three, fees would increase by at least 150 percent. So if a standard visitor visa currently costs $160, someone from a country meeting all three criteria could pay $400 or more. The Secretary of State would review these determinations every month to adjust which countries are affected and whether fees should go up or down.

The practical impact would be felt by ordinary people trying to visit family, conduct business, or travel for education. Citizens of countries with deportation cooperation issues, terrorism designations, or human trafficking problems would face significantly higher costs just to apply for a visa. This could discourage legitimate travel and make it harder for people to visit the United States, even if they have no connection to their government's policies or problems.

FIRM Act of 2025

Wagner, Ann

Fee Increases for Reckless Mismanagement Act of 2025 or FIRM Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of State to increase the fee for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants (i.e., those who are visiting temporarily for business or pleasure) who are nationals of certain countries. In particular, the State Department must increase the fee on the nationals of a country if the State Department determines that the government of the country has denied or delayed the acceptance of certain&nbsp;non-U.S. nationals, if the State Department has designated the country as a state sponsor of international terrorism, or if the country is not meeting certain standards for combating human trafficking.The fee increases with each of the criteria the country meets. The State Department must evaluate countries based on the criteria monthly and adjust the fee accordingly.&nbsp;