New fees for visiting the US
The U.S. has introduced a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee that will apply to nearly all non-immigrant visa applications. This includes common categories such as tourist (B1/B2), student (F-1), work (H-1B, L-1), and exchange visitor (J-1) visas. The fee was included in a broad immigration funding bill signed into law on July 4, 2025, and is expected to go into effect sometime in fiscal year 2026, beginning October 1, 2025.
The stated purpose of the fee is to encourage visa compliance and reduce overstays. It is described as a refundable deposit—applicants who comply with the terms of their visa and leave the country on time may be eligible to request a refund. However, no clear process for requesting or receiving that refund has been announced yet, and the responsible agency has not been identified.
The Visa Integrity Fee will be charged in addition to existing visa application fees, which means the total cost for a basic tourist visa, for example, will rise from $185 to $435. The law also includes other fee increases, such as raising the I-94 arrival/departure record fee from $6 to $24 and increasing the ESTA fee for visa waiver travelers from $4 to $13.
The new fee does not apply to citizens of visa waiver countries (e.g., many European nations), or to most Canadian and Bermudan visitors who do not require a visa.
The policy has drawn criticism from the travel and education sectors, with concerns that it could deter tourism and international study in the U.S. during major upcoming events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. There is also speculation that other countries may respond with reciprocal fees for American travelers.
For now, applicants should be aware of the additional cost and monitor updates from the U.S. State Department or Department of Homeland Security as implementation details are finalized.
