May 7, 2026

U.S. to Add New Visa Fee for International Visitors: “Visa Integrity Fee”

The U.S. government will start charging international visitors a new “visa integrity fee” of at least $250 on top of current visa costs. This new fee is part of a recently passed domestic policy bill from the Trump administration.

It will apply to anyone needing a nonimmigrant visa to enter the U.S., such as tourists, business travelers, international students, and other temporary visitors. In 2024, the U.S. issued nearly 11 million of these visas, according to the State Department.

Travelers from countries in the Visa Waiver Program—like Australia and most of Europe—don’t need a visa for visits under 90 days. However, their ESTA fee (used for short-term travel authorization) is also expected to rise to at least $40, nearly double the current cost.

The new visa fee must be paid upfront when the visa is issued, and no one will be exempt. However, travelers who follow the rules of their visa may be eligible to get the fee refunded after their trip. The refund process hasn’t been clearly explained yet.

The visa integrity fee applies to all nonimmigrant visa categories, including:

• B-1/B-2 (business/tourist)
• F-1 (student)
• H-1B (specialty occupation)
• L-1 (intra-company transfer)
• O-1 (extraordinary ability)
• TN (NAFTA professionals)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for implementing the fee but hasn’t released full details yet. A DHS spokesperson said it will take coordination between different government agencies. A State Department spokesperson said the fee is meant to help enforce immigration laws, reduce visa overstays, and support border security.

If the fee isn’t refunded, it will go into the U.S. Treasury’s general fund.

For the 2025 fiscal year, the fee will be at least $250, but it could be more if DHS decides to raise it.

Fees for foreign worker

The visa integrity fee also applies to employment-based visas. For example, an H-1B worker applying for a visa abroad:

• Their employer already pays a $780 application fee.
• Plus a $500 anti-fraud fee.
• Now, the worker may have to pay an additional $250 due to the new visa integrity fee.

Employers must decide whether to cover this new fee as part of employee benefits, or pass the cost on to the employee. This fee adds both administrative and financial burdens as it comes on top of substantial legal and filing costs that companies already cover when sponsoring foreign workers.

 

For more information, please call Bailey Immigration PC (503) 224-0950.