A newly signed law will soon introduce a $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ for non-immigrant visa holders traveling to the United States, affecting millions of international visitors and reshaping travel dynamics across major hubs such as Los Angeles (LAX).
President Donald Trump signed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ into law on July 4, 2025, implementing this fee with the aim of improving visa compliance.
This fee specifically targets various visitor categories, including tourists on B-1/B-2 visas, international students holding F and M visas, as well as temporary workers using H-1B visas.
In 2023 alone, the United States issued over 10 million non-immigrant visas, highlighting the broad impact this new fee will have.
The implementation of the fee will take effect for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2024, and concluding on September 30, 2025, with plans to adjust the fee annually for inflation starting in 2026.
This new charge is distinct from existing visa fees, such as the $185 Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee; it serves as a refundable deposit intended to encourage compliance with visa terms.
Visa holders must exit the country on time and refrain from unauthorized employment to qualify for the refund.
Notably, the fee will not apply to diplomatic visas (A and G).
Travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) nations, including those from Japan and the UK, along with most Canadian citizens, are exempt, as they do not require visas for brief stays.
However, the fee will considerably raise costs for applicants from nations such as India, China, and Brazil, potentially increasing the total expense for a B-1/B-2 visa to $472 by 2026, when additional charges like the $24 I-94 fee are included.
The primary purpose of the visa integrity fee is to act as a security deposit aimed at diminishing the rate of visa overstays and violations.
Data from 2016 to 2022 reveals that 1-2% of non-immigrant visa holders overstayed their authorized duration, which notably contributes to approximately 42% of the 11 million unauthorized immigrants who entered the U.S. legally.
The U.S. government intends to promote adherence to visa conditions by offering refunds to those who comply, such as departing within the stipulated time frame or seeking legal status changes.
Proponents of this initiative believe that it will strengthen immigration enforcement, with the generated revenue allocated to the U.S. Treasury’s general fund.
Conversely, critiques emerge from organizations like the U.S. Travel Association, which view the fee as a
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