A new law passed in the United States has introduced a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” for non-immigrant visa applicants. The change, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, will go into effect in fiscal year 2026. The new charge will be added on top of existing visa fees, significantly raising the total cost for many applicants.

The law aims to strengthen visa rule enforcement and improve compliance monitoring. The $250 fee applies to several visa types—including B-1/B-2 (tourist/business), F and M (students), H-1B (work), and J (exchange visitor) categories. Only diplomatic applicants in A and G categories are exempt.

The Visa Integrity Fee is described in the law as a recurring surcharge, and its amount will be indexed to inflation starting in 2026. The law specifies that it will be recalculated each fiscal year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), ensuring it keeps pace with inflation annually.

While applicants may request a refund, it won’t be automatically granted. To qualify, individuals must prove that they complied fully with visa conditions, such as showing evidence of leaving the U.S. on time or legally adjusting their status. Refunds can only be processed after the visa expires, and if applicants fail to qualify, the fee will go to the general fund of the US Treasury.

United States has introduced a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” | Credit: X

The legislation also clarifies that this fee cannot be waived or reduced, with 14 specific clauses reinforcing its mandatory nature.

In addition to the new $250 surcharge, the law includes several non-waivable travel-related surcharges:

• A $24 I-94 fee
• A $13 ESTA fee for Visa Waiver Program travelers 
• A $30 EVUS fee for Chinese nationals with 10-year B-1/B-2 visas    

For example, Indian nationals applying for a B-1/B-2 visa currently pay $185. With the new charges added, the total cost could increase to $472, more than double the current fee.

The legislation also indicates that fees may rise further through future regulations. Supporters of the measure believe the added financial requirement will encourage applicants to follow visa rules and reduce overstays.

“This fee… shall be required… by any alien issued a nonimmigrant visa at the time of such issuance.”

The new US law will significantly raise visa costs while tightening enforcement, linking future hikes directly to inflation-adjusted calculations.

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