Travellers to the U.S. must pay a new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ — what to know

 The Trump administration's recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a provision requiring visitors to the United States to pay a "visa integrity fee."

All travelers who require nonimmigrant visas to enter must pay the charge, which is non-refundable.

Nonetheless, the clause may also allow travelers to receive reimbursement for the payments.

 

A U.S. Travel Association representative told CNBC Travel that the lack of information about the new requirement has led to "significant challenges and unanswered questions regarding implementation."

Who is responsible for the new fee?
All visitors who require nonimmigrant visas, including tourists, business travelers, and international students, are subject to the "visa integrity fee." Under the Visa Waiver Program, certain travelers—such as those from Australia, Japan, and several European countries—might not require visas in order to enter.

The fee is paid when?
According to the clause, the cost is paid at the time the visa is issued. Therefore, there will be no fees for tourists whose visa applications are turned down.

Does the cost take the place of additional visa fees?
No, the clause specifies that the extra charge is "in addition to" previous charges, such as standard visa fees.

In a statement on his firm's website, Steven A. Brown, a partner at the Houston-based immigration law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, stated that an H-1B worker who was previously paying a $205 application fee might now anticipate spending a total of $455 once this fee is implemented.

The cost must also be paid in addition to a "Form I-94 fee," which was raised from $6 to $24 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The majority of travelers who are required to submit a Form I-94 arrival and departure record are obligated to pay that cost.

How may travelers receive their money back?
According to the clause, visa holders must adhere to the terms of the visa, which include "not accepting[ing] unauthorized employment," and not extending the visa's validity by more than five days to receive their money back.

It states that reimbursements will be issued following the expiration of the travel visa.

What is unknown
According to Brown, the fee has not yet been put into effect.

When it will start is unclear.

"I think a regulation, or at the very least a notice in the Federal Register, regarding implementation on collection, would be necessary," Brown stated.

The U.S. Travel Association told CNBC that it is also unclear how travelers will pay the cost.

The spokeswoman asked, "Where and when would DHS collect the fee? The bill directs the DHS Secretary to charge the fee, but DHS does not own the visa application, issuance, or renewal process."

A Department of Homeland Security official told CNBC that "cross-agency coordination is required before implementation of the visa integrity fee."

How and when the compensation process begins are still up for debate.

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office stated that it anticipates "a small number of people would seek reimbursement" because many visas are valid for a number of years.

Furthermore, "CBO anticipates that the Department of State would require a number of years to establish a reimbursement process." Accordingly, the CBO projects that, over the 2025–2034 timeframe, implementing the provision will raise revenues and reduce the deficit by $28.9 billion.

According to Brown, he advises customers to consider the cost non-refundable.

"Great if you can get it back. However, recovering funds from the government is typically challenging," he stated. "If they receive the reimbursement, I would prefer that they see it as a "bonus."

The fee's objective
A Department of Homeland Security official told CNBC that President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill offers the resources and policies required to restore the integrity of our country's immigration system.

According to data, the majority of visa holders adhere to their conditions. According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, between 1% and 2% of nonimmigrant tourists overstayed their visas in the United States over the fiscal years 2016–2022.

Nonetheless, the data indicates that 42% of the nearly 11 million undocumented individuals residing in the United States entered the country lawfully but overstayed their entrance time.

impact on arriving tourists
According to Brown, international students and B visa holders, who travel for business and pleasure, will probably be more affected by the visa integrity cost than other travelers.

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“For travelers on B visas, the added $250 per person could significantly increase their trip expenses,” he said.

This new fee, along with the I-94 charge, comes as the U.S. prepares to host major global events in 2026, including the America 250 celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, and several matches of the FIFA World Cup.

Meanwhile, challenges have intensified due to issues at Brand USA, the agency responsible for promoting U.S. tourism abroad. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act slashed its budget from $100 million to $20 million, and in April, the U.S. Commerce Department dismissed nearly half of Brand USA’s board members.

Brand USA President and CEO Fred Dixon said the organization is "disappointed" by the cuts but remains optimistic that funding will be restored for the 2026 fiscal year.

“We remain committed to growing legitimate international travel and supporting the economic impact it brings to the U.S.,” he added.

Despite supporting the bill’s investments in infrastructure, air traffic control, and border security, U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman criticized the cuts and new travel fees.

“These smart investments are overshadowed by unwise new fees on foreign visitors and reduced funding for Brand USA, the nation’s tourism promotion agency,” he said.

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