China Travellers With Ten Year US Visas Face October Fee Hike as EVUS Charge Reaches US$31.75

Chinese passport holders with ten‑year US visitor visas will have to pay an EVUS fee when they enroll from 16 October 2026 according to a notice from the Department of Homeland Security published on 1 October. The fee, for passport holders will rise from US$30.75 to US$31.75 for those Chinese passport holders who hold B‑1, B‑2 or combined B‑1/B‑2 visas. For holidaymakers business visitors and families the practical issue goes beyond a dollar: a valid visa and a valid electronic enrolment serve different purposes. Chinese passport holders should check their enrolment status before departure understand when a new submission is required and use the official fee schedule when budgeting for their next journey. federalregister.gov

EVUS fee change has a clear October start date

The DHS notice published in the Federal Register sets 16 October 2026 as the collection date for the revised amount. Publication on 1 October did not make the higher charge immediately payable.

That distinction matters for travellers comparing advice published at different times. The payment relates to enrolment, so readers should distinguish the submission date from their flight or arrival date.

The adjustment changes the price of an existing requirement. It does not announce a new visitor visa category or a wider entitlement to enter the country. federalregister.gov

A ten-year visa has a separate electronic requirement

EVUS, the Electronic Visa Update System, allows covered travellers to update information associated with their US visitor visa. The Department of State identifies the affected group as Chinese citizens holding ten-year B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visas in passports issued by the People’s Republic of China.

The system has applied to this group since 29 November 2016. A long visa validity period therefore sits alongside a more frequent information update requirement.

Travellers should read their passport and visa together when checking whether the rule applies. Describing the charge as a fee for every Chinese visitor would overlook the specified passport, visa category and validity conditions. travel.state.gov

How the charge reached its current level

The fee framework changed under Public Law 119-21, which established a US$30 minimum for the 2025 fiscal year. The legislation also required annual inflation adjustments from the following fiscal year.

The preceding DHS adjustment raised the charge by US$0.75 to US$30.75, effective on 1 January 2026. The October announcement is the next adjustment in that sequence.

The framework rounds the calculated increase down to the next lowest multiple of US$0.25. Annual adjustment is a published legal requirement, but travellers should wait for an official notice before relying on any future amount. federalregister.gov

Check the enrolment record before making assumptions

An existing visa does not tell travellers whether their electronic record remains usable. They should check the enrolment status and displayed validity before departure, particularly after a long gap between visits.

CBP guidance says a successful enrolment generally supports multiple trips over two years, with passport or visa expiry potentially shortening that period. Readers should use the actual record rather than calculate eligibility from the visa expiry date alone.

A sensible preparation sequence is to review the passport, review the visa, check enrolment and then resolve any document changes. Leaving these checks until airport arrival creates an avoidable planning problem. help.cbp.gov

A replacement passport can trigger another submission

Under the current EVUS regulations, a new passport or a new designated visa requires re-enrolment. Certain changes to personal details and eligibility answers also trigger a fresh submission.

A valid US visa can remain in an expired passport. The State Department advises travellers in that situation to carry the new valid passport together with the old passport containing the valid visa.

The passport arrangement and electronic update must both be addressed. Replacing a passport should therefore prompt a document review before the next journey. ecfr.gov

China remains an important US visitor market

The National Travel and Tourism Office, part of the US Department of Commerce, reports 1.56 million arrivals from China in 2025. Its June 2026 factsheet ranks China tenth among international source markets by visitor volume.

The same publication records US$25.7 billion in travel and tourism exports associated with China, placing it second by spending. That measure includes travel for all purposes and air passenger transportation, so it should not be presented as holiday spending alone.

These figures describe the wider economic relationship. They do not measure the number of fee-paying enrolments or establish how this October adjustment will affect demand. Fast Facts July 22 DRAFT.docx

Travel businesses need accurate document advice

For airlines, tour operators and travel agents serving this market, the practical response is to keep customer instructions current. Booking reminders should distinguish visa validity, passport validity and electronic compliance.

For hotels and local businesses, the fee notice provides no evidence of a measurable change in bookings, employment or investment. Claims that a one-dollar adjustment will cause cancellations would require separate evidence.

Clear advice remains useful regardless of the modest increase. A customer who understands the document requirements can plan with fewer unresolved questions.

Three essential traveller questions

Status checked on 3 October 2026. The revised charge starts on 16 October 2026.

Does the fee rise mean I must replace a valid enrolment?

The notice changes the fee and does not announce blanket cancellation of existing records. Check your status and re-enrol when required by expiry or a relevant change.

Must enrolment be valid before boarding?

Yes. Covered air and sea travellers need a valid notification of compliance before boarding and through arrival; land travellers need it through their application for admission. ecfr.gov

Does successful enrolment guarantee entry?

No. A visa permits travel to request admission, while a CBP officer decides whether to admit the traveller at the border. travel.state.gov

What travellers should do next

For people who are affected by these changes the next step is simple: look at the passport the visa and the electronic enrolment before leaving. Then think about the cost when a new application is needed. The increase in October is one dollar but checking the documents is more important than the small difference in price. Each family member should check their travel documents especially if their passport has changed recently. Travel companies need to make sure their reminders, for customers have the date and should not say that enrolment means you will definitely be admitted. Any future fees will be announced by the government. A visa that lasts ten years gives a lot of time to travel. You still need to get everything ready before you go.

Official Sources

• US Customs and Border Protection / Federal Register: FY2027 fee adjustment notice
• Office of the Federal Register / eCFR: Electronic Visa Update System requirements
• US Department of Commerce / NTTO: US Travel and Tourism Fast Facts, June 2026