Travelers seeking entry into the United States on nonimmigrant visas are now facing a new financial requirement following recent legislative changes. A $250 charge, referred to as the “visa integrity fee,” has been introduced as part of the broader tax and spending legislation—officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—which President Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025.
This newly instituted fee is applicable during the current U.S. federal fiscal year, which commenced on October 1, 2024, and concludes on September 30, 2025. Moving forward, the legislation mandates that the fee be adjusted annually to account for inflation.
The visa integrity fee targets nonimmigrant visa holders, including international students studying at American colleges and temporary foreign workers holding permits such as the H-1B visa—commonly used by U.S. employers to hire specialized talent from abroad.
According to data provided by the U.S. State Department, over 10 million nonimmigrant visas were issued in 2023 alone.
Although those required to pay the new fee may be eligible for reimbursement, this is contingent on strict compliance with visa conditions, such as departing the United States within five days of the visa’s expiration date. However, the law fails to detail the reimbursement process or the administrative framework for collecting the fee.
“The visa integrity fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementation,” a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told CBS MoneyWatch in an email. “President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill provides the necessary policies and resources to restore integrity in our nation’s immigration system,” it added.
Because the government has yet to outline how the fee will be collected, it remains uncertain whether the charge will be applied retroactively. When contacted for clarification, the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond regarding the retroactive application of the fee.
Additional Burden for Asylum Seekers
Immigration advocates have expressed concern that the new charges could further complicate legal immigration pathways. The American Immigration Council, a nonpartisan research organization, noted that the legislation also introduces additional mandatory fees—such as a new $100 filing fee for individuals applying for asylum in the U.S.
“These fees, many of which are authorized to be layered on top of existing fees, are largely mandatory, effectively putting legal pathways out of reach for thousands of people,” the group said in a July 14 statement.
For example, international students are already responsible for an $185 visa application fee and a $350 Student and Exchange Visitor Program fee. The new $250 integrity fee raises the total cost for student visa applicants to $785.
Similarly, individuals seeking asylum—who were previously able to file at no cost—could now be expected to pay more than $1,150 in total under the new regulations, according to estimates by the American Immigration Council.
It’s worth noting that many short-term visitors to the U.S. do not require visas, thanks to the Visa Waiver Program. This program permits nationals from over 40 countries—including Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom—to visit the U.S. for fewer than 90 days without obtaining a visa.
