U.S. Introduces $250 Visa Integrity Fee for Nonimmigrant Travelers
- The U.S. is introducing a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee for most nonimmigrant visa applicants starting in fiscal year 2026.
- The fee is paid when a visa is issued, cannot be waived or reduced, and may increase yearly with inflation.
- Visa Waiver Program travelers and immigrant visa applicants are exempt from the new integrity fee.
- Eligible travelers who follow all visa rules may request a refund after their visa expires, though DHS hasn’t set the process yet.
Visiting the U.S. will get more expensive. The Department of Homeland Security is finalizing a new Visa Integrity Fee, which is expected sometime during fiscal year 2026.
What is the visa integrity fee?
A new visa integrity fee for nonimmigrant visa holders is outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025.
The fee, authorized by the Department of Homeland Security, will cost a minimum of $250 per applicant and can be increased annually for inflation. That means, if a family of four wants to travel to the U.S. to visit relatives or for vacation, it could cost an additional $1,000 to enter the country.
The law also gives the Department of Homeland Security the discretion to set even higher visa integrity fees.
Although the cost is in addition to existing visa filing fees, this one isn’t due when you apply for a nonimmigrant visa. The new fee is due upon visa issuance. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) will likely collect the fees, as nonimmigrant visas are issued at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
There is no way to have the fee waived or reduced, although it may be reimbursed if the traveler follows the law, and either departs the U.S. in accordance with their visa or receives an extension or adjustment of status while within their visa’s validity period.
Who has to pay the visa integrity fee?
The visa integrity fee applies to nonimmigrant visa categories, including temporary workers with H-1B, L-1, and O-1 visas, students with F-1 visas, exchange visitors with J-1 visas, or business and tourist travelers with B-1 or B-2 visas, and others. If you were issued a visa prior to the start of the fiscal year (October 1, 2025), you won’t need to pay the visa integrity fee.
Anyone who meets the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program won’t need to pay the new integrity fee. This means travelers on a B visa who will be in the U.S. less than 90 days and are from certain countries in the program—Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, for example—might not need to pay the new fee.
The Visa Waiver Program requires travelers to have a valid ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before traveling to the United States.
People applying for immigrant visas or a Green Card are not subject to the visa integrity fee.
Can I be refunded for the visa integrity fee?
Unlike with non-refundable application fees, the law allows for the visa integrity fee to be refunded after a visa expires, or when the validity period ends.
A reimbursement isn’t automatic, and DHS hasn’t yet released details about how to request a refund.
There are a few eligibility requirements for a fee reimbursement.
- You have complied with the conditions of your visa, including not accepting any unauthorized employment.
- When your authorized stay ended, you left the United States within five days
OR
- You legally extended your visa while it was still valid, or you became a lawful permanent resident (got a Green Card).
If you meet all these requirements and can provide proof that you meet them, you could be eligible for a refund from DHS.
| 💡 Manifest tip: Keep records of travel dates, such as your I-94, and visa compliance in case you qualify for a refund later. |
Other immigration fee increases on the horizon
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also includes requirements for additional visa application fees, some of which are being collected by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Here are examples of just a few of the new fees:
- Employment authorization documents (EAD) parolees, asylees, and people with TPS – $550
- Asylum application- $100
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) application- $500
- Form I-94 records – $24
- Renewals or extensions of employment authorization for parolees, asylees, and people with TPS – $275
- Adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident status, filed in immigration court – $1,500
- Annual asylum fee for each year a case is pending – $100
The new fees will be implemented on top of existing filing fees and processing fees.
Get help navigating new visa application fees and requirements
👉 If you want help making sense of what new visa application fees might apply to your specific situation, our immigration attorneys can help. Request a consultation to learn more.
