US EditionUS Imposes $250 Visa Integrity Fee While Collection Rules Remain Unreleased
UNITED STATES, JUL 18 – The $250 fee aims to improve immigration compliance and fund 5,000 new Customs and Border Protection agents, potentially reducing overstays by the 10 million annual nonimmigrant visa holders.
- On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act introducing a $250 visa integrity fee for nonimmigrant visas, effective in fiscal year 2026.
- From a policy perspective, the fee funds administrative and security measures, acting as a refundable security deposit under strict compliance conditions.
- Fee applies across all major nonimmigrant visa types, including F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, and H-1B visas, and the total cost for Indian nationals is predicted to leap to about $472, roughly 2.5 times the current price.
- Travel industry experts warn the fee could further shrink U.S. tourism, which has already dipped in 2025, as Jorge Loweree said `Attaching an additional $250 fee has the very real potential to significantly reduce the number of people that can afford to do that`.
- According to the Congressional Budget Office, the provision could yield $28.9 billion in net revenue over 2025–2034, while the law mandates annual inflation adjustments beginning in fiscal year 2026.
58 Articles
58 Articles
'For frequent travelers, the costs add up'
'I'm taking a stand against jacked-up airline fees by taking the middle seat'Blake Fontenay at USA TodayOrdering a "plane ticket now is like buying a car — after you've made your purchasing decision and are ready to get on with the rest of your life, you're bombarded with decisions about add-on fees," says Blake Fontenay. Choices "must be made about how many bags you want to check, whether you want 'priority seating' and whether to add" insuranc…
Travelers To U.S. Face New Visa Integrity Fee Of At Least $250
Foreign visitors to the U.S. will soon be charged a “visa integrity fee” of at least $250, a new cost imposed under the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The fee, which cannot be waived, applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders —including tourists, students, and business travelers — and will be collected when the visa is issued. The fee is in addition to existing visa application fees and a newly increased Form I-94 fee, which r…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Left
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
