US Adds $250 Visa Integrity Fee for Non-Immigrant Visitors — What It Means for You

The United States had implemented a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for virtually all non-immigrant visitors to apply starting 2025. Tourists, business travelers and international students are also subject to the fee, and there is no provision for a waiver. The provision comes with the option of a refund for those who comply with their visa conditions, such as not engaging in illegal work, and respecting the visa dates. The fee increase means it will now be much more expensive for anyone to apply for a visa. The fee is among other measures intended to secure U.S. immigration and visa systems, but its implementation and potential effect on international travel have raised concerns. The United States is implementing a new “visa integrity fee” as part of the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, introduced during the Trump administration. This new fee will affect all visitors requiring non-immigrant visas to enter the U.S. The fee cannot be waived, and it will apply to a broad range of visa holders, including tourists, business travelers, and international students. While the details about the specific implementation remain unclear, it is expected that the fee will bring about significant challenges and uncertainties for travelers and visa applicants. The fee, set at a minimum of \$250 for the U.S. fiscal year 2025, will apply from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. The Secretary of Homeland Security, however, has the authority to adjust the fee, potentially increasing it beyond this baseline. Visa applicants will face the “visa integrity fee” as an extra cost, added on top of the current visa application fees. For example, an individual applying for an H-1B visa, which currently requires a \$205 application fee, will see the total cost rise to \$455 once this new fee is implemented. This means that visitors who are already facing high costs for U.S. visa applications will now face even steeper financial burdens.