Recent measures undertaken to tighten US border security are not only affecting foreign visitors, but American travelers as well.  Other countries have adopted policies affecting American travelers in response to the US measures, which include increased fees for travel visas and increased scrutiny of visa applications.

After the US raised the application fee for a tourist visa to $100, other countries responded by raising their tourist visas fees for American applicants.  Brazil, Russia and Turkey have raised their fees for American travelers to $100 and Chile has imposed a $100 visa fee.  Liberia and Pakistan have also raised their fees.  A few countries such as China and India have also raised their fees, but have not matched the $100 increase.

In addition to fee increases, some other countries have initiated stricter procedures for the processing of American travelers.  Russia and Brazil are more carefully scrutinizing the reason given for a trip.  Other countries have changed their rules for American tourists.  China no longer accepts visa applications by mail and now requires travelers to appear at an embassy or consulate in person. 

The US measures have also directly affected American travelers by increasing wait times at US ports or entry, such as the Canadian and Mexican borders.  There are also longer lines at customs and immigration at airports, especially when the threat level is raised.  US border officials are now looking into each car and talking to every passenger at Canadian and Mexican border checkpoints.  A raise in the alert code means that searches and security checks are more intensive.  Airport and border officials suggest that travelers factor wait times into their schedules and factor possible secondary inspections into their calculations.