The United States is adding a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for visitors who require visas, though as of now there are more questions than answers.
Millions of US visitors face hefty “visa integrity fee”
We recently saw President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed into law, which has lots of implications for the country. There’s one that will impact travelers, which is particularly confusing. I’m not here to dramatize anything, so you can read the bill at this link, and specifically, look at section 100007.
The bill calls for the introduction of a new $250 “visa integrity fee,” which is supposed to apply to all visitors who come to the United States on non-immigrant visas, so that includes tourists, international students, and business travelers. In 2023, the United States issued more than 10 million of these visas, just for context.
According to the text of the bill, the fee is effective the current federal fiscal year, which actually ends in a couple of months — it runs October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. For subsequent years, the amount of the fee can be adjusted based on inflation. That “visa integrity fee” is in addition to all the other types of fees that already exist for those applying for a visa.
So, what is this new “visa integrity fee?” The idea is that the fee is essentially a “deposit,” of sorts, to make sure you behave while you’re in the United States. Visa holders who are subject to the fee may later be reimbursed, as long as they comply with their visa’s restrictions, like leaving the United States before the visa expires, and not working without authorization.
However, the law doesn’t specify how the fee will be collected, or how travelers will be reimbursed if they comply with restrictions. It’s also not clear if this will apply retroactively, or what, since this supposedly applies for the current fiscal year. A government spokesperson has simply stated that “the visa integrity fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementation.”
The United States also plans to raise the Form I-94 fee from $6 to $24, and add a new $100 fee for asylum seekers. My goodness, the United States sure is turning into an ultra low cost carrier!
I’m confused by the logistics & motivation of this
Is there something I’m missing, or can anyone fully make sense of this? Essentially, the United States will be holding a $250 deposit from roughly 10 million visitors annually.
If the goal is to make sure people follow the rules while in the United States (which I can understand), then it doesn’t seem like potentially paying a $250 penalty will be a sufficient deterrent to not violate the rules. Like, that’s less than the fee you could face if your car is towed.
If someone wants to overstay their visa or work while in the United States, I don’t think the $250 fee will do much to impact their behavior. Is the intent here simply to try to deter non-rich tourists from visiting?
Next, the logistics here just seem like a nightmare. Will this be made part of the process of applying for a visa? And how will refunds be issued? Will they have to be requested, or will they be automatic, as long as you don’t get into trouble? You’ve gotta assume that a not-insignificant percent of people may find themselves having issues with getting the refund, and I can only imagine how the “customer service” will be in those situations.
Look, I’ll admit I don’t usually read entire government bills, because I’d have to set aside days at a time to do so. But it’s fascinating to actually read the language here, because it really feels like the “visa integrity fee” concept was drawn up without much thought being put into how this will actually be executed.
Bottom line
The United States is adding a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for foreign visitors who require a visa for the United States. The mandate is clear, but the logistics of how this fee will be charged are a lot more confusing. This is supposed to apply as of the current fiscal year, so expect that this will be implemented in the very near future.
What do you make of this new “visa integrity fee?”
