The United States has introduced a new mandatory visa integrity fee of $250 for all non-immigrant visa applicants, a move that could significantly impact tourists, business travellers, and international students seeking to enter the country.
The fee, which cannot be waived under any circumstance, is part of its immigration reforms passed under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” originally initiated by the administration of President Donald Trump.
According to the law, the $250 fee is payable at the point of visa issuance as applicants whose visa requests are denied will not be charged.
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However, travellers who do receive visas and fully comply with all U.S. immigration regulations may be eligible for a reimbursement.
Conditions for this include abstaining from unauthorized employment, not seeking to extend their stay beyond the approved period, and leaving the United States no later than five days after their visa expiration.
Lawful permanent residents are also eligible for refunds, though details on how to claim such reimbursements remain unclear.
The legislation grants the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to increase the visa integrity fee beyond $250 in the future.
The measure has already sparked concern among frequent international visitors, as it adds to the growing financial and administrative burden associated with U.S. travel.
In a related development, the Act also imposes a steep increase in the fee for Form I-94, the document issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that records a foreign national’s admission to the country.
While most air and sea travellers receive the I-94 electronically, those arriving by land currently receive paper forms at a $6 fee.
Under the new law, that fee will rise to $24 per issuance, although it remains unclear whether this increase will apply to all entry points or specific categories of travellers.
Beyond visa-related fees, the Act also raises charges across several other immigration processes.
Users of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), mainly visitors from visa waiver countries in Europe and Asia will now be required to pay at least $13 per travel authorization, with the law allowing for annual adjustments based on inflation.
Applicants under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program face new charges as well, including a $500 TPS application fee, $550 for the initial employment authorization document (EAD), and $275 for renewals.
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Asylum seekers will now be required to pay a $100 annual fee while their applications are pending, with additional charges of $550 for the initial EAD and $275 for subsequent renewals.
For those applying for humanitarian parole, the application will cost $1,000, with EAD fees set at $550 initially and $275 for renewals.
Immigration court filings have not been spared as the cost of filing for adjustment of status has jumped to $1,500, while cancellation of removal will now cost $600. Appeals and motions are pegged at $900.
These fee hikes reflect a broader shift toward a pay-for-service immigration system, which U.S. authorities say is intended to enhance border integrity and streamline immigration processes.
However, critics argue that the increases could discourage legal immigration, strain international relations, and place undue burden on vulnerable applicants, including students, refugees, and low-income travellers.
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