The United States has enacted a new "visa integrity fee" of at least $250, which will be added to existing visa application costs for international visitors required to obtain nonimmigrant visas.
This includes tourists, business travelers, international students, and other temporary visitors. The fee is part of the Trump administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill" that was signed into law on July 4, 2025.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects of this new policy:
Who is Affected?
1. All visitors who need a nonimmigrant visa to enter the U.S. This encompasses a wide range of visa categories such as B-1/B-2 (tourism/business), F-1 (students), H-1B (specialty occupations), J-1 (exchange visitors), and more.
2. Travelers from countries not part of the Visa Waiver Program (which includes Australia and many European countries) will be subject to this fee.
Fee Details:
1.Amount: The initial fee for fiscal year 2025 (which runs from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025) is $250, or "such amount as the Secretary of Homeland Security may establish, by rule." The fee is subject to annual adjustments for inflation.
2. Payment: Payment will be required at the time visas are issued. Unlike other visa fees that might be paid upfront during the application process, the visa integrity fee is collected only upon successful visa issuance.
3. No Waivers: There will be no fee waivers or reductions for this new charge.
4.Additional Cost: This fee is in addition to existing visa application costs, such as the machine-readable visa (MRV) application fee (currently $185 for many categories) and a newly increased Form I-94 fee ($24).
This means the upfront cost of visiting the U.S. could significantly increase, in some cases by 144% according to the U.S. Travel Association.
Refund Mechanism:
1. The fee is characterized as a "refundable security deposit" by immigration attorney Steven A. Brown.
2.Travelers who fully comply with their visa conditions may be eligible for a reimbursement after their trip.
Conditions for a refund generally include:
1
Avoiding all unauthorized employment.
2.Departing the U.S. promptly at the end of their authorized stay (within five days of their I-94 expiration date).
3. Or, obtaining a lawful extension of their nonimmigrant status or adjusting status to that of a lawful permanent resident.
4. However, the mechanism for obtaining a refund is currently unclear. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency instituting the new fee, has not yet offered specifics about the refund process or other aspects of the policy's rollout, stating that it "requires cross-agency coordination before implementation." Immigration lawyers warn that the refund process could involve extensive paperwork, delays, or even denials.
Purpose of the Fee:
A State Department spokesperson indicated the fee was established "to support the administration’s priorities of strengthening immigration enforcement, deterring visa overstays, and funding border security."
Fees that are not reimbursed will be "deposited into the general fund of the Treasury."
Implementation and Concerns:
1. While the fee is legally effective for the current fiscal year (FY2025), the exact date and method of collection are still being determined. It is expected to be implemented through a rulemaking process involving publication in the Federal Register.
2.The U.S. Travel Association has strongly criticized the new fee, calling it "a giant leap backwards" and "a self-imposed tariff" on international visitors. They argue that the added financial barrier and complexity, even with the possibility of reimbursement, will discourage visitors, especially given upcoming major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.