Pure speculation here, but I have a feeling this will have an effect.

The United States will raise the application fees for a tourist visa from $100 to $131 on Jan. 1.

Chile charges a $100 reciprocity fee to U.S. citizens to enter, good for the life of the passport, and Brazil charges $100 for a visa to U.S. citizens. It wouldn't surprise me to see both countries raise their fees to $131.

Bolivia, which began requiring visas for Americans at the beginning of this month, is already at the higher amount.

Jeff,

Given the fact that Chile already charges Canadians $132.00, I am sure they will raise it for US travellers..
Not sure what Brazil charges us these days.
raquel

Historically, the US sets its visa fees based on reciprocity. Surprised to hear we're taking the initiative.

That's not quite the whole story. The $100, soon to be $131, is a visa application fee that citizens of all countries requiring U.S. visa must pay just to apply. No refunds if the visa isn't granted. Then the United States applies a fee for reciprocity on top of that. If a U.S. citizen must pay for a visa from a given country, then citizens of that country pay that fee to come to the U.S., above and beyond the application cost.

So Chile (entry fee), Brazil (visa) and Bolivia (visa) have said, we'll charge U.S. citizens what we have to pay to go to the U.S.

Wow, been out of the business for a while and hadn't heard about the "application fees." Who says our government isn't efficient? Look how they've milked every penny out of 9/11 . . . ;^0