Visiting the United States is about to get significantly more expensive thanks to a new US visa fee increase. Federal lawmakers have approved a hefty new visa fee that will soon apply to a large number of tourists entering the US. As part of the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed into law on July 4, a new $250 (Rs21,539) “visa integrity fee” will be charged to any US visitor who needs a nonimmigrant visa.
According to the bill’s language, the fee will apply to “any alien issued a nonimmigrant visa at the time of such issuance.” That means anyone applying for a nonimmigrant visa in any category that requires issuance for entry into the US should expect to pay the $250 charge, according to immigration legal firm Envoy Global.
When officials begin collecting the fees (the start date of which remains in question), the money will go to the US Treasury Department’s general fund. Travel industry experts are worried that the new fee could potentially further curtail US tourist numbers, which have already dipped in 2025. Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the US Travel Association, called the new fees “foolish” in a statement released after Congress passed the bill on July 3.
“Raising fees on lawful international visitors amounts to a self-imposed tariff on one of our nation’s largest exports: international travel spending,” Freeman said. “These fees are not reinvested in improving the travel experience and do nothing but discourage visitation at a time when foreign travellers are already concerned about the welcome experience and high prices. As Congress begins work on FY26 appropriations, it must … ensure visitor fees are lowered, if not eliminated, wherever possible.”
The new fees are being implemented just before the US is set to host major global events like the World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in 2028, which could throw a huge wrench in the plans of both potential visitors and travel companies.
Here’s everything travellers need to know about the new $250 fee.
Who will need to pay the new visa fee?
Any non-immigrant travellers from countries that are not on the US visa waiver list will need to pay the fee in order to enter the US. That means most tourists coming from Africa, Latin America, and South America, as well as select countries in Asia and the Middle East, will be subject to the new $250 levy. The fees will apply to all student visas, work visas, and other special visas, including: F-1 and F-2 student visas; J-1 and J-2 exchange visas; H1-b and H-4 temporary work visas, and other employment and visitor categories.
What are the total visa costs?
The $250 payment will be charged in addition to other US visa fees. That means visitors will need to pay it along with any other reciprocity fees, anti-fraud fees, and “machine-readable visa” (MRV) application fees, the amounts of which can vary by visa type. For Indian nationals, this additional fee will bring their average visa costs to approximately $473 (Rs40,785), depending on which visa they are applying for. Those applying for business and tourism (B1 and B2 categories) visitor visas, will be charged a total fee of around $425 (Rs36,690).
Will the fee be reimbursable?
The visa integrity fee will not be waivable or reducible. According to Envoy Global, the Department of Homeland Security may potentially reimburse visitors if they fully comply with the terms of their visa by departing the US promptly when their visa authorisation period ends, extending their nonimmigrant status, or changing their status to lawful permanent resident.
Is India exempt?
Indian tourists are not exempt from this fee. The fee is only exempt for tourists from countries who do not need a visa to enter the US. This includes citizens of countries that are part of the US visa waiver program, as well as most travellers from Canada and Bermuda. There are 42 countries and autonomous states that are part of the visa waiver program. That means their citizens will not have to pay the $250 fee if visiting the US for up to 90 days on visa-free tourism or business. The exempt countries include:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Chile
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
When will the ‘visa integrity fee’ go into effect?
So far, the fee’s start date has not been officially announced. However, it could go into effect with the start of the new fiscal year in the US, according to Paul Saluja of Saluja Law, a firm that handles immigration law. That date would be October 1, 2025.
Another component that remains to be seen is which agency will be responsible for collecting the fee. “Given its connection to visa issuance, the Department of State may be involved in the collection process during the consular visa appointment process,” according to Envoy Global. The Department of Homeland Security could also be the one to collect the fee. However, it is likely that travellers will need to pay the $250 charge upon issuance of their visa.
This is a developing news story and will be updated with information as it becomes available.
First published on CNT US
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