Washington, D.C., July 20 2025 — Starting October 1, 2024, visitors traveling to the United States will be required to pay an additional $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” under a new provision included in the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law by former President Donald Trump’s administration.
The mandatory fee applies to all non-immigrant visa applicants—including tourists, business travelers, and international students—and will remain in effect through September 30, 2025, aligning with the U.S. fiscal year 2025.
According to the provision, the fee is charged only if the visa is approved. Applicants whose visa requests are denied will not be required to pay it. Though the bill includes a clause for possible fee refunds, the exact reimbursement procedures and eligibility criteria remain unclear.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Travel Association told CNBC Travel that the new measure has created confusion and raised implementation concerns: “There are significant challenges and unanswered questions regarding enforcement.”
The fee may also be adjusted for inflation, and the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to increase the amount as needed under the new legislation.
More detailed guidelines—such as application instructions, exemptions, and refund conditions—are expected to be released in the coming months.
