() A provision under the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act shows that visitors to the U.S. will have to pay a “visa integrity fee.”
The fee will apply to all visitors who need a nonimmigrant visa to enter the country, and it cannot be waived. However, the provision shows that travelers may be able to get a reimbursement.
Here is what is known about the fee so far.
How much is the fee?
The “visa integrity fee” will be $250 during the 2025 U.S. fiscal year, which started on Oct. 1, 2024 and ends Sept. 30. According to the provision, the DHS secretary can adjust the fee to a higher price. Afterwards, that fee will be adjusted for inflation.
Who has to pay, and when is it paid?
The fee applies to all visitors who need a non-immigrant visa to enter the country, which includes tourists, business travelers and international students. Visitors from countries on the Visa Waiver Program list will be exempt from the fee.
The fee will be paid when a visa is issued, so if a visa request is denied to a person, they will not be charged.
Does the fee replace other visa fees?
No, the new fee is in addition to existing fees, including the fees for regular visas, according to the provision. The fee must be paid on top of the Form I-94 Fee, which has been increased from $6 to $24 by the budget bill.
The fee must be paid by anyone required to submit a Form I-94 arrival and departure record, which applies to most travelers.
How will travelers get reimbursed?
According to the provision, in order to get their money back, visa holders will have to comply with visa conditions, which include “not accept(ing) unauthorized employment,” and not overstaying the visa’s validity date by more than five days.
Reimbursements will be made to travelers once the visa expires.
