US introduces new visa integrity fee of $250 for non-immigrants

Under the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a mandatory Visa Integrity Fee for non-immigrant visa applicants, starting 2026.

What’s new
As per a report by Fragomen, a fixed $250 fee will now be charged at the time of visa issuance. DHS has the authority to raise this fee beyond the base amount through future regulations. From 2026 onward, the amount will increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), making this a recurring cost indexed to inflation.


While the fee is non-waivable and cannot be reduced under any condition, DHS has outlined limited cases where a refund may be possible. To qualify:

• The visa holder must strictly comply with all visa conditions, including not working without authorization and not overstaying.
• The person must either leave the US within five days of their I-94 expiration (without applying for extension or change of status), or
• Receive a lawful extension or adjustment to permanent residency before the I-94 expiry date.

If these conditions are met, the fee may be reimbursed. Otherwise, the amount will be directed to the US Treasury’s general fund.

Impact on international sectors
The new requirement is expected to impact international students, tech professionals, tourists, and employers who depend on global talent. It also adds a compliance-based financial burden, linking immigration status maintenance to potential cost recovery. Sectors like education and technology, which employ a large number of F-1 and H-1B visa holders, may see downstream effects in workforce planning and retention.

Additional travel-related fees
The legislation also outlines increases and new charges for other US travel and entry systems:

Fee Type	Amount	Waiver available?	Notes
Visa Integrity Fee	$250	No	Refundable only if compliance and timely departure or extension met
I-94 Fee	$24	No	Required for admission tracking
ESTA Fee	$13	No	Applies to Visa Waiver Program travelers
EVUS Fee	$30	No	Applies to certain Chinese nationals with 10-year B1/B2 visas