If you’re traveling to the United States, you will now have to pay a “visa integrity fee”.

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This new fee applies to all visitors who need nonimmigrant visas to enter the country. There is a possibility that travelers can get the fee reimbursed; however, the $250 fee cannot be waived beforehand.

According to CNBC, a $250 fee is about to hit travelers. The new visa integrity fee has been detailed in a provision of the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

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The details about the new fee are few and far between. A spokesperson from the U.S. Travel Association stated that the lack of details has led to “significant challenges and unanswered questions regarding implementation.” There are details that are known, like the cost of the fee. It will be at least $250 in the 2025 fiscal year, which ends on September 30th, 2025.

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The secretary of Homeland Security is able to set the fee higher after the fiscal year ends, meaning the visa integrity fee can and most likely will be adjusted for inflation. In addition to the price, we know that the fee applies to “all visitors who need nonimmigrant visas, which includes tourists, business travelers, and international students.” Under the Visa Waiver Program, some visitors from locations including Australia, Japan, and many nations in Europe might not need visas.

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The fee will need to be paid when your visa is issued, and anyone whose visa request is denied will not need to pay the $250. The bill provision also clarified that this new fee is in addition to your other visa fees. It will also need to be paid in addition to the “Form I-94 fee.” That fee has increased from $6 to $24, also thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Form I-94 fee will need to be paid “by anyone who is required to submit a Form I-94 arrival and departure record, which applies to most travelers.”

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If you are looking to get reimbursed for the visa integrity fee, any visa holders will need to stick to the conditions of the visa. That will include things like “not accepting unauthorized employment” and “not overstaying the visa validity date by more than five days.” Travelers will be reimbursed after the travel visa expires.

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At the time of writing, the fee hasn’t been implemented, and it isn’t clear when it will be. The U.S. Travel Association also stated it is unclear how travelers will pay the $250. A spokesperson for the association said, “The bill directs the DHS Secretary to charge the fee, but DHS does not own the visa application, issuance, or renewal process — so where and when would DHS collect the fee?”

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A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated, “The visa integrity fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementation.” Several types of visas are applicable for several years, so it is assumed many people will not seek reimbursement. A spokesperson for the U.S. Congressional Budget Office stated the “CBO expects that the Department of State would need several years to implement a process for providing reimbursements. On that basis, CBO estimates that enacting the provision would increase revenues and decrease the deficit by $28.9 billion over the 2025‑2034 period.”

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The fee is intended to “restore integrity in our nation’s immigration system,” according to a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security. We are eager to see when the fee will be implemented and it the fee will cost more in 2026. Be sure to keep following DFB for more travel news and updates.

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Will this new fee impact you? Tell us in the comments.