New $250 U.S. Visa Integrity Fee To Raise Costs For American Visitors
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyjs...ity-fee-to-raise-costs-for-american-visitors/
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The new U.S. Visa Integrity Fee will be important to know about for any of your relatives, friends, or business associates planning to visit the United States in the coming months. Starting in late 2025, the U.S. government will begin
charging a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” to most foreign nationals applying for a U.S. visa. This fee was established under the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4, 2025, and is likely to affect millions of travelers.
Who Has to Pay The U.S. Visa Integrity Fee?
The fee applies to almost all
nonimmigrant visa categories: tourist and business (B-1/B-2), student (F/M), work (H-1B/H-4), and exchange visas (J). Applicants from non-waiver countries,such as China, India, Nigeria, and Brazil,will have to pay the visa integrity fee of $250 in addition to their other required fees. Most tourists coming from Africa, Latin America, and South America as well as select countries in Asia and the Middle East, will also be subject to the new $250 levy. On the other hand, visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries,such as the UK, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea,won’t be affected. Most Canadians and Bermudians will also be exempt from paying the fee. Diplomats in parts of the Middle East, as well as official visa holders, may qualify for special waivers.
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I did not even notice this one in the
big beautiful bill.
SEC. 100007. VISA INTEGRITY FEE.
(a) Visa Integrity Fee.--
(1) In general.--In addition to any other fee authorized by
law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require the payment
of a fee, equal to the amount specified in this subsection, by any
alien issued a nonimmigrant visa at the time of such issuance.
(2) Initial amount.--For fiscal year 2025, the amount specified
in this section shall be the greater of--
(A) $250; or
(B) such amount as the Secretary of Homeland Security may
establish, by rule.
(3) Annual adjustments for inflation.--During fiscal year 2026,
and during each subsequent fiscal year, the amount specified in
this section shall be equal to the sum of--
(A) the amount of the fee required under this subsection
for the most recently concluded fiscal year; and
(B) the product resulting from the multiplication of the
amount referred to in subparagraph (A) by the percentage (if
any) by which the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
for the month of July preceding the date on which such
adjustment takes effect exceeds the Consumer Price Index for
All Urban Consumers for the same month of the preceding
calendar year, rounded down to the nearest dollar.
(4) Disposition of visa integrity fees.--All of the fees
collected pursuant to this section that are not reimbursed pursuant
to subsection (b) shall be deposited into the general fund of the
Treasury.
(5) No fee waiver.--Fees required to be paid under this
subsection shall not be waived or reduced.
(b) Fee Reimbursement.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may
provide a reimbursement to an alien of the fee required under
subsection (a) for the issuance of a nonimmigrant visa after the
expiration of such nonimmigrant visa's period of validity if such alien
demonstrates that he or she--
(1) after admission to the United States pursuant to such
nonimmigrant visa, complied with all conditions of such
nonimmigrant visa, including the condition that an alien shall not
accept unauthorized employment; and
(2)(A) has not sought to extend his or her period of admission
during such period of validity and departed the United States not
later than 5 days after the last day of such period; or
(B) during such period of validity, was granted an extension of
such nonimmigrant status or an adjustment to the status of a lawful
permanent resident.
