What the New $250 Visa Integrity Fee Means for International Visitors
A new “Visa Integrity Fee” of $250 will soon become part of the price of entering the United States on nearly every non-immigrant visa. This surcharge, authorized under the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is scheduled to take effect in 2026 and will be adjusted each year for inflation. For travelers, students, and temporary workers alike, the fee functions like a security deposit: pay it up front, and—if you meet a narrow set of departure or status-adjustment rules—you may qualify for a refund. Otherwise, the money is forfeited to the U.S. Treasury’s general fund.
Who Has to Pay?
- Tourist and business visitors on B-1/B-2 visas
- Foreign students on F or M visas
- Temporary workers on H-1B and other employment categories
- Exchange visitors on J visas
Only holders of diplomatic (A) or international-organization (G) visas are exempt. All other categories—roughly two-thirds of the 10 million non-immigrant visas issued yearly—will see the extra $250 tacked on at the time a visa is placed in the traveler’s passport.
Additional Government Surcharges
The Act layers on several other mandatory fees that can quickly inflate a trip’s total cost:
- $24 I-94 issuance fee, charged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- $13 Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee for Visa Waiver Program travelers
- $30 Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) fee for certain 10-year B-1/B-2 visa holders from China
Taken together, the visa application process for a first-time B-1/B-2 visitor could climb from today’s $185 to roughly $472 once the new surcharges are in force—about 2.5 times the current price.
Why the Fee Exists
According to the legislation, the new charge is designed to encourage compliance with U.S. immigration law by creating a financial incentive to leave the country on time or complete a legal status change. The fee operates like a refundable deposit, allowing you to receive your money back if you meet specific departure or status-adjustment rules.
Refund Rules in Brief
To have the $250 returned, travelers must:
- Depart the United States no later than five days after their authorized stay expires (usually the date on the I-94 record), and not have filed for an extension or change of status; or
- Successfully adjust to permanent residence before the I-94 expiration date.
Even when those conditions are met, applicants must submit flight records, passport entry/exit stamps, or proof of status adjustment. The State Department is expected to issue formal refund guidelines well before the 2026 rollout.
Impact on Travelers from Developing Nations
For many would-be visitors, especially from South Asia, Africa, or Latin America, the new security fee could amount to several weeks or months of average local income. Families who have budgeted for a summer vacation or prospective students weighing U.S. universities against those in Canada, Australia, or Europe may find the additional costs prohibitive. Travel advisers already report an uptick in questions about whether to accelerate trip planning before 2026 or to consider destinations with more predictable and affordable entry requirements.
Tips for Jetsetter Guide Readers
1. Apply Early: If your U.S. trip is planned for late 2025 or early 2026, submit your visa application as soon as appointment calendars open. Consulates date visa issuance, not travel, so an approval in 2025 would fall under the current fee structure.
2. Track Your I-94: Once inside the country, verify your I-94 expiry date online. Overstaying by even a few days will void any chance of a refund and can jeopardize future travel privileges.
3. Save Departure Proof: Keep boarding passes, airline e-mails, and passport stamps when you leave. You may need them to demonstrate a timely exit.
4. Consider Alternatives: If budget is tight, compare total visa costs (not just airfare) for Canada, Mexico, the Schengen Area, or Southeast Asia, where fees stay well below $100.
5. Monitor Currency Movements: Because the Integrity Fee is pegged to inflation in U.S. dollars, applicants from high-inflation economies or those facing weakening currencies should factor in exchange-rate swings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Visa Integrity Fee charged per person or per family?
The fee is levied on each applicant. A family of four would pay $1,000 in Integrity Fees alone.
If I receive a 10-year tourist visa, do I pay the fee every time I travel?
No. The $250 is assessed once, at the moment a visa is placed in your passport. However, once the visa expires and you apply for a new one, the fee would be charged again at the then-current rate.
Will the fee be refunded automatically when I leave?
No. Eligible travelers must apply for a refund, providing evidence of timely departure or successful status adjustment. Details of the application process are forthcoming.
Does the fee apply to Green Card holders reentering the U.S.?
Permanent residents do not hold non-immigrant visas, so the Integrity Fee does not apply.
Looking Ahead
Airlines, tour operators, and university admissions offices are bracing for the ripple effects of the new security fee on most non-immigrant visas. Demand for U.S. leisure travel may soften marginally, while some international students and skilled workers may redirect their plans to other English-speaking markets. On the other hand, U.S. lawmakers promote the policy as a means to reduce visa overstays, which accounted for an estimated 1.1 percent of arrivals in 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. Whether the financial stick achieves that outcome—or merely shifts travel patterns—remains to be seen. For now, travelers eyeing American road trips, campus tours, or seasonal work should budget the Integrity Fee into their 2026 plans and keep an eye on forthcoming State Department guidance. Acting early could save hundreds of dollars and a great deal of paperwork.
