US Introduces $250 Visa Integrity Fee for All Non-Immigrant Applicants

The United States has initiated a $250 "visa integrity fee" for all non-immigrant visa applicants, impacting individuals seeking entry for tourism, education, employment, and cultural exchange. 

The charge, effective from the beginning of the 2025 fiscal year, applies to common visa categories including H-1B (skilled workers), F-1 (students), J (exchange visitors), and B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) visas. The fee, introduced under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on 4 July 2025, supplements existing machine-readable visa fees and reciprocity charges, and is non-waivable upon visa issuance. 

The Department of Homeland Security will administer annual inflation-based adjustments. Officials say the policy will reinforce visa compliance and fund enhanced enforcement and adjudication protocols. The act includes a provision for partial or full reimbursement for travellers who depart the US promptly or lawfully adjust their immigration status. 

Regulations governing these refunds are still under development. Critics argue that the upfront financial burden on applicants, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, is not effectively mitigated by retrospective reimbursement mechanisms.

The visa integrity fee forms part of a more comprehensive immigration and budget reform package. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also raises charges for I-94 arrival and departure records and increases fees for asylum applicants. These changes reflect the administration’s commitment to curbing visa abuse and bolstering border infrastructure.

Exemptions apply to diplomatic visa categories (A and G) and nationals from Visa Waiver Programme countries, including Canada, Bermuda, and most European Union member states. While implementation is underway, enforcement of the fee awaits finalisation of agency-level protocols. The introduction of the visa integrity fee marks a significant shift in US immigration policy. 

This development occurs as the US government increasingly focuses on both immigration control and recovering administrative costs associated with the visa application process.