New $250,00 U.S. Visa Fee Approved

U.S. Approves New $250 Fee for Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance.

The United States government has approved a new mandatory fee of $250 for foreign nationals applying for nonimmigrant visas, such as tourism (B2), business (B1), student (F), exchange (J), temporary work (H), athletes and performers (P), among others. The measure was included in the legislative package titled the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law by President Donald Trump in early July. Although there is no official implementation date yet, the fee is expected to take effect with the start of the new U.S. fiscal year on October 1, 2025.

Known as the Visa Integrity Fee, the new charge was introduced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a tool to strengthen immigration compliance and reduce the number of visas overstays in the country. The fee will be charged only upon the issuance of a visa, meaning applicants who are denied will not be required to pay it, and will be added to the current consular processing fee of $185. As a result, the total cost of obtaining a U.S. visa will increase to $435.

The law allows for the fee to be adjusted annually based on inflation. In addition, the same legislation establishes a new charge of $24 for Form I-95, which documents a foreign national’s entry into the U.S. Therefore, the total cost of obtaining a visa and entering the country could reach $459.

According to the law, there is a possibility of reimbursement of the Visa Integrity Fee under specific conditions. Reimbursement may only be requested after the visa’s expiration and is subject to strict compliance with all nonimmigrant visa terms. To be eligible for reimbursement, the traveler must:

·    Have fully complied with the conditions of the nonimmigrant visa, including not accepting unauthorized employment.

·       Not have sought to extend their stay in the U.S. and must have departed the country within five days after the authorized period ended.

·    Have legally obtained an extension of nonimmigrant status or become a lawful permanent resident during the visa’s validity.

However, the legislation does not specify the procedures for submitting a reimbursement request.

The new fee will significantly impact millions of visa applicants, particularly companies that rely on foreign labor. The charge will be mandatory, and no exemptions are provided. As of now, the Visa Integrity Fee has not yet appeared on the official U.S. visa application platforms.