The $250 Visa Integrity Fee

🏛️💵

Public Law 119-21 • DHS • State Dept. • Verified

Everything travelers, students, workers, families, and employers need to know about the new mandatory fee — who pays it, who is exempt, when it starts, whether you can get it back, and how it changes the total cost of a U.S. visa.

💡 10 Key Things to Know About the Visa Integrity Fee

The U.S. Visa Integrity Fee is the most significant immigration fee change in recent memory — adding a mandatory $250 charge on top of all existing visa fees for virtually every nonimmigrant visa applicant worldwide. Introduced under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, the fee applies to tourists, students, workers, exchange visitors, and their dependents. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it will generate $28.9 billion in federal revenue over 2025–2034. Here is everything you need to know before you plan your trip, your studies, or your hiring budget.

1
What exactly is the Visa Integrity Fee, and why was it created? A mandatory $250 fee on every approved nonimmigrant visa, paid at the time of issuance
The Visa Integrity Fee is a $250 mandatory charge added to all nonimmigrant visa issuances at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. It was created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21), signed on July 4, 2025. The law describes its purpose as funding “border protection” and incentivizing compliance with visa terms. Unlike the existing Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) application fee of $185, the Integrity Fee is charged only when a visa is approved and physically issued — not at the time of application. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the fee will generate $28.9 billion in federal revenue over the 2025–2034 period. It is described in the law as a minimum of $250 for fiscal year 2025, with the Department of Homeland Security retaining authority to set it higher through formal rulemaking at any time.
2
When does the fee actually start being collected? Law signed Jul 4, 2025 — Not yet collected as of April 2026
Despite being enacted into law, the fee is not yet operational. The Alliance for International Exchange (Nov 2025) and Columbia University’s International Students and Scholars Office (March 2026) both confirmed collection has not begun. A July 22, 2025 Federal Register notice stated the fee “requires cross-agency coordination before implementing” and would be addressed “in a future publication.” The Bureau of Consular Affairs — which oversees all U.S. embassies — has not yet issued implementation guidance. The law’s statutory language suggests implementation should occur within fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026), but no firm date has been officially announced. Current visa applicants are not being charged. Monitor the official U.S. State Department travel site at travel.state.gov for updates before your interview.
3
Who has to pay the Visa Integrity Fee? Every person issued a nonimmigrant visa stamp at a U.S. embassy or consulate
The fee applies to virtually every category of nonimmigrant visa issued by a U.S. consulate abroad: tourist and business travelers (B-1/B-2), international students (F-1, M-1), exchange visitors (J-1), specialty workers (H-1B), intracompany transferees (L-1), outstanding ability professionals (O-1), treaty traders and investors (E-1/E-2), and all other nonimmigrant categories requiring a visa stamp. Critically, dependents are not exempt — an H-1B worker’s spouse on H-4 and children each pay $250 separately. Per Greenberg Traurig’s immigration analysis (Jul 2025), an H-1B family of three faces $750 in integrity fees alone, on top of all other filing costs. A family of four applying for B-1/B-2 tourist visas would see total government fees jump from $740 to $1,740 — a 135% increase (VisasNews, Mar 2026).
4
Who is exempt from the Visa Integrity Fee? VWP/ESTA travelers, Canadians/Bermudians in visa-exempt categories, diplomats, immigrant visa applicants
Four categories are confirmed exempt from the $250 fee. First, Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers from approximately 42 countries — including the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Australia, France, South Korea, and others — who enter using ESTA and never receive a physical visa stamp. These travelers pay the separate ESTA authorization fee (increased to $40 in September 2025) but not the $250 integrity fee. Second, Canadian and Bermudian citizens in visa-exempt categories such as TN status. Third, diplomatic and official visa holders (A visas, G visas, NATO visas). Fourth, immigrant visa applicants applying for permanent residency. However, if a Canadian applies for an E-2 investor visa or any category requiring a physical stamp, the fee does apply. Check whether your nationality qualifies for the VWP at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html.
5
Is the fee refundable? Can you get the $250 back? Technically yes — practically treat it as non-refundable for years
The law technically allows a refund after the visa expires — but with major strings attached, no refund system currently built, and a likely wait of several years. To be eligible, you must: (1) comply fully with all visa conditions; (2) not accept any unauthorized employment; (3) depart the U.S. within five days of your authorized stay ending, or legally extend your status or adjust to lawful permanent resident (green card); and (4) be able to provide evidence of compliant departure. As of January 2026, DHS has not published any refund application process. The CBO projects only “a small number of people would seek reimbursement” and that “DOS would need several years to implement a process.” Immigration attorney Brown, quoted in CNBC (Jul 2025), advises treating the fee as non-refundable and viewing any refund as a “bonus.” Newsweek (Jul 2025) confirms there is “no formal refund system in place, making the fee effectively non-refundable.”
6
How much does the total visa cost now with the new fee added? B-1/B-2 tourist visa: $435 total (was $185) • F-1 student: $785 total (was $535)
The Visa Integrity Fee is in addition to — not replacing — all existing fees. For a B-1/B-2 tourist visa, the new total government fee is $185 MRV application fee + $250 integrity fee = $435 per person (VisasNews, Mar 2026). For an F-1 student visa: $350 SEVIS fee + $185 MRV + $250 integrity fee = $785 total — a 47% increase (Collegepond, Jan 2026). These amounts do not include any reciprocity fees (charged based on what your home country charges U.S. citizens), any biometric fees, or the separate I-94 arrival fee (increased from $6 to $24 under the same law). The $250 is the statutory minimum — DHS may set it higher through rulemaking before or after initial implementation, and it will increase annually with the Consumer Price Index starting in FY 2026.
7
If my visa was already issued before the fee started, do I need to pay it? No — existing valid visas are not affected
If your visa was issued before the fee’s implementation date, you are not required to pay. Manifest Law (Nov 2025) confirms: “If you were issued a visa prior to the start of the fiscal year (October 1, 2025), you won’t need to pay the visa integrity fee.” The fee applies only to new visa issuances at the time the stamp is placed in your passport. However, if your current visa expires and you apply for renewal, the fee will apply at that future renewal appointment. Since many tourist visas (B-1/B-2) are valid for 10 years and many work visas run 3–6 years, visa holders with recently issued stamps may not encounter the fee for several years. Each visa renewal is a separate issuance — meaning you pay the integrity fee each time a new visa stamp is issued, not just once.
8
Does the fee apply to those changing or extending their status inside the U.S.? No — only applies to physical visa stamps issued at U.S. consulates abroad
The fee applies specifically to visa issuances at U.S. embassies and consulates outside the United States — not to USCIS applications filed from within the U.S. for status changes or extensions. Per Greenberg Traurig (Jul 2025): “The fee only applies when a physical visa stamp is issued by a U.S. consulate abroad, not for USCIS change of status applications within the United States.” This distinction matters for people already inside the U.S. who extend their H-1B, change from F-1 to H-1B, or adjust status to permanent resident — those actions are handled by USCIS and do not trigger the integrity fee. However, if a person then travels outside the U.S. and needs a new visa stamp issued at a consulate to re-enter (called consular processing), the fee applies at that point.
9
Will the fee keep increasing over time? Yes — annual CPI inflation adjustments start FY 2026, plus DHS may raise the base at any time
The law mandates annual adjustments to the fee based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) starting in fiscal year 2026. BeyondBorderGlobal (Jan 2026) estimates that at a 3% annual inflation rate, the fee could reach approximately $275 by 2028 and over $300 by 2031. Additionally, DHS has authority to set a higher base fee through formal rulemaking at any time — the statutory language establishes $250 as the minimum, not the maximum. If DHS exercises this authority, the base could increase to $300 or even $350 before inflation adjustments begin. For people planning multi-year visa scenarios — students, long-term workers, or repeat tourist visitors — the increasing cost over time is a meaningful budget planning consideration, particularly if you need multiple visa renewals over a decade.
10
What does this mean for international tourism to the U.S.? Significant economic concern — experts project nearly 1 million fewer visitors annually
Tourism Economics projects the Visa Integrity Fee will deter nearly 1 million visitors annually and cost $3.6 billion per year in lost spending (VisasNews, Mar 2026). The U.S. Travel Association described it as “a self-imposed tariff on one of our nation’s largest exports: international travel spending.” Context matters: overseas visits to the U.S. (excluding Canada and Mexico) already dropped 11.6% year-over-year in March 2025, and the World Travel & Tourism Council found the U.S. was the only country among 184 analyzed to see international visitor spending decline in 2025. The timing intersects directly with the June 2026 FIFA World Cup across 16 U.S. cities and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. For individual travelers, the immediate effect is straightforward: plan for a significantly more expensive U.S. visa process and treat the $250 as a non-refundable addition to your trip budget.

Sources: Public Law 119-21 / H.R.1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Jul 4, 2025); Congressional Budget Office estimate $28.9B revenue 2025–2034; Federal Register Notice Jul 22, 2025 (cross-agency coordination required); Greenberg Traurig Inside Business Immigration (Jul 23, 2025); KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2025-139 (Jul 25, 2025); Manifest Law (Nov 25, 2025); Columbia University ISSO confirmation (Mar 2026) via VisasNews Mar 2026; Alliance for International Exchange (Nov 3, 2025); CNBC (Jul 18, 2025) — attorney Brown quote; Newsweek (Jul 22, 2025); BeyondBorderGlobal (Jan 29, 2026); Collegepond (Jan 20, 2026); Tourism Economics projections; U.S. Travel Association statement; WTCC 2025 findings; travel.state.gov; uscis.gov

📋 Visa Categories — Who Pays, Who Is Exempt

✅ Visa Categories That MUST Pay the Fee

✈️

Tourist & Business Travel

B-1 / B-2 Visa — Business & Tourism

$435 Total (was $185) $250 Integrity Fee Added Family of 4: $1,740 in fees

The B-1/B-2 visa is the most widely issued nonimmigrant category, used by tourists, business travelers, and visitors coming to the U.S. for stays up to 6 months (often on 10-year multi-entry visas). The new fee brings total government fees to $435 per person — nearly 2.4 times the previous $185. For a family of four, total government fees jump from $740 to $1,740 before any travel, hotel, or transportation costs. VisasNews (Mar 2026) identifies B-1/B-2 holders as among the most impacted groups since many hold long-validity visas and travel regularly. Note: visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries (UK, Japan, Australia, Germany, etc.) who enter with ESTA do not need a B visa and are exempt from this fee.

🎓

Student Visas

F-1 / M-1 Visa — Academic & Vocational Students

$785 Total (was $535) 47% Cost Increase SEVIS $350 + MRV $185 + Fee $250

International students on F-1 (academic) and M-1 (vocational) visas face a 47% increase in total government visa costs. The new stack: $350 SEVIS fee + $185 MRV application fee + $250 integrity fee = $785 total per student (Collegepond, Jan 2026). Like all applicants, student dependents (F-2 or M-2 visas for spouses and children) must also each pay $250 when their visas are issued. The fee applies per visa issuance — so an F-1 student who completes a degree, leaves the U.S., and re-enters on a new visa stamp will pay again. Students who change status inside the U.S. without leaving and re-entering are not directly charged the integrity fee at that step, but will face it if they need a new consular stamp.

💼

Work Visas

H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN — Employment Visas

$250 per person at visa issuance Dependents (H-4, L-2) also pay H-1B family of 3: $750 integrity fees

All employment-based nonimmigrant visas are covered: H-1B (specialty occupation), H-2A/H-2B (seasonal workers), L-1 (intracompany transfers), O-1 (extraordinary ability), TN (Canadian/Mexican NAFTA professionals), and more. Critically, this is a consular processing fee — it applies when a visa stamp is issued abroad. Employers who sponsor workers and pay all immigration costs need to update budget projections. An H-1B employee with an H-4 dependent spouse and child faces $750 in integrity fees alone, on top of existing petition fees already exceeding $1,000. Employers should determine whether the company or the employee bears this cost and document that decision clearly in offer letters and immigration policies.

🔬

Exchange Visitors

J-1 Visa — Exchange Visitors, Researchers, Au Pairs

$250 per person at issuance Researchers, professors, trainees, au pairs J-2 dependents also pay

J-1 exchange visitors — including researchers, professors, doctors in training, au pairs, camp counselors, and summer work/travel participants — are fully subject to the fee when their visa is stamped at a consulate. J-2 dependent spouses and children must each pay $250 as well when their visas are issued. Many J-1 programs have strong cultural exchange motivations and often involve participants from lower-income countries where $250 represents a significant additional financial barrier. Programs and sponsors should communicate the new cost clearly to prospective participants and update program budgets and informational materials.

🚫 Categories EXEMPT from the Fee

🌐

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

ESTA Travelers — ~42 Countries Including UK, Japan, EU Members

Fully Exempt — No $250 Fee ESTA fee increased to $40 (Sep 2025) Up to 90 days stay

Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries — including the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, and approximately 38 other nations — enter the U.S. with ESTA authorization rather than a physical visa stamp. Because no visa is issued, the Visa Integrity Fee does not apply. These travelers pay the ESTA application fee, which was increased from $21 to $40 under the same legislation on September 30, 2025 — significantly less than the $250 integrity fee. Check the full current VWP country list at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html to confirm your country’s eligibility before applying for a visa.

🍁

Canadian & Bermudian Citizens (Visa-Exempt Categories)

Canadian TN Status & Other Visa-Exempt Categories

Exempt in visa-free categories Must pay if obtaining a visa stamp (e.g., E-2) Check category specifics

Most Canadian citizens can enter the U.S. under TN status or as business visitors without a visa stamp — and therefore are not subject to the Visa Integrity Fee for those categories. However, if a Canadian national applies for and receives a visa requiring a physical stamp — such as an E-2 investor visa — the fee applies. Bermudian citizens similarly have certain visa-free entry categories. Canadians planning to apply for any category that requires a formal consular interview and visa issuance should verify whether their specific visa type is subject to the fee. KPMG’s immigration analysis (Jul 2025) confirms this category distinction applies.

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Diplomats & Immigrant Visa Applicants

A, G, NATO Visa Holders & Permanent Residency Applicants

Diplomatic visas: Fully Exempt Immigrant visas: Fully Exempt Green Card process not affected

Holders of diplomatic and official visas (A visas for government officials, G visas for international organization staff, NATO visas for alliance personnel) are exempt from the integrity fee. Additionally, immigrant visa applicants — those applying for lawful permanent residence (a green card) through a U.S. consulate abroad — are not subject to this fee. The fee is specifically targeted at nonimmigrant (temporary) visa holders. People already inside the U.S. who are adjusting status to permanent residence through USCIS are also unaffected by this fee, as no consular stamp is involved in their process.

Sources: Public Law 119-21 (exempt categories; immigrant visa exemption; VWP exemption); KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2025-139 (Canadian TN exempt; E-2 taxable); Greenberg Traurig (Jul 2025) (consular vs. USCIS distinction; H-4 family calculation); Manifest Law (Nov 2025) (VWP countries; ESTA $40 increase); VisasNews Mar 2026 (B-1/B-2 $435; family of four $1,740); Collegepond Jan 2026 (F-1 $785 total; 47% increase); travel.state.gov (VWP country list)

💰 Complete Cost Breakdown by Visa Type

Visa Type	Previous Total	New Total	Increase
B-1/B-2 Tourist / Business	$185	$435	+$250 (135% ↑)
F-1 Student (+ SEVIS)	~$535	~$785	+$250 (47% ↑)
H-1B Worker (consular)	$185	$435	+$250 per person
J-1 Exchange Visitor	$185	$435	+$250 per person
Family of 4 on B-1/B-2	$740	$1,740	+$1,000 total
ESTA (VWP Countries)	$21	$40	+$19 (integrity fee exempt)
I-94 Arrival Record	$6	$24	+$18
Immigrant Visa (Green Card)	Varies	Unchanged	Exempt from integrity fee

⚠️ Costs shown are minimum government fees only. Reciprocity fees (charged based on what your home country charges U.S. citizens), biometric fees, attorney fees, and application processing times are not included. Amounts are in USD. The $250 is a statutory minimum — DHS may increase it through rulemaking. Annual CPI inflation adjustments begin FY 2026.

Sources: VisasNews Mar 2026 (B-1/B-2 $435; family of four $1,740); Collegepond Jan 2026 (F-1 $785); Greenberg Traurig Jul 2025 (H-1B consular processing fee structure); Manifest Law Nov 2025 (ESTA fee $40); KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2025-139 (I-94 fee $24); Public Law 119-21 (immigrant visa exemption; DHS rulemaking authority; minimum $250)

📊 By the Numbers

💵 Fee Amount

$250 Minimum

Statutory minimum per person per visa issuance. DHS may raise it through rulemaking. Annual CPI increases begin FY 2026. Could reach $275–$300 by 2028–2031 at 3% inflation.

📅 Law Signed

July 4, 2025

One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21. Fee not yet collected as of April 2026. Cross-agency coordination required per Jul 22, 2025 Federal Register notice.

💰 Revenue Projection

$28.9 Billion

Congressional Budget Office estimate over 2025–2034 period. CBO also projects only a small fraction of applicants will claim refunds, and the refund system will take years to build.

📉 Tourism Impact

~1M Fewer Visitors/Year

Tourism Economics projection. $3.6 billion in lost annual visitor spending. U.S. overseas visits already dropped 11.6% year-over-year in March 2025 before the fee was announced.

🌍 VWP Countries

~42 Nations

Citizens exempt from the $250 fee if entering with ESTA. Includes UK, Japan, EU members, Australia, South Korea, and others. Verify at travel.state.gov.

⏱️ Refund Timeline

Years (TBD)

CBO: “DOS would need several years to implement refund process.” No system exists yet. Treat fee as non-refundable for practical planning purposes.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family of 4 Impact

+$1,000 Extra

A family of four on B-1/B-2 visas pays $1,000 more in integrity fees alone (4 × $250), on top of $740 in existing MRV fees — a 135% total fee increase.

Sources: Public Law 119-21 (minimum $250; DHS rulemaking authority); Congressional Budget Office (revenue $28.9B; refund system “several years”); Tourism Economics (1M visitors; $3.6B lost spending); VisasNews Mar 2026 (135% family of four increase; overseas visits -11.6%); WTCC 2025 findings; BeyondBorderGlobal Jan 2026 (CPI inflation projection $275 by 2028)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Answered Plainly

💡 When Does the Visa Integrity Fee Actually Go Into Effect?

As of April 2026, the fee is law but not yet being collected. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) was signed on July 4, 2025, establishing the fee effective at the start of fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025). However, a Federal Register notice on July 22, 2025 stated the fee “requires cross-agency coordination before implementing.” Columbia University’s ISSO confirmed in March 2026 that collection had not yet begun, and the Bureau of Consular Affairs had not issued embassy guidance. Collection is expected before September 30, 2026, but no firm date is set. Always check travel.state.gov and uscis.gov before your visa interview for the most current status.

💡 Is the Visa Integrity Fee Refundable?

Technically yes, practically no — at least for years. The law allows a refund after your visa expires if you: (1) complied with all visa conditions; (2) did not do unauthorized work; (3) departed the U.S. within five days of your authorized stay’s end or lawfully extended/adjusted status; and (4) can prove it. But as of January 2026, no refund application process has been published by DHS. The CBO projects refund infrastructure will take “several years” to build. For B-1/B-2 holders with 10-year visas, that means waiting a decade for a $250 refund through a system that doesn’t yet exist. Multiple immigration attorneys, including those cited in CNBC (Jul 2025), recommend treating the fee as non-refundable for financial planning purposes and viewing any refund as an unexpected bonus.

💡 Do I Need to Pay If I Already Have a Valid Visa?

No. If your visa was issued before the fee’s implementation date, you do not need to pay. The fee applies only at the time a new visa stamp is physically issued at a U.S. consulate. Your existing valid visa is not affected in any way. You will encounter the fee when your current visa expires and you need to renew — at that future appointment, the fee will apply. If you are currently in the U.S. under a valid visa and need to extend or change status through USCIS (without leaving the U.S. and going to a consulate), you are also not directly subject to this fee at that step.

💡 What Is the Visa Integrity Fee Official Website?

There is no single official government webpage dedicated exclusively to the Visa Integrity Fee as of April 2026. Implementation guidance has not yet been issued to embassies. For the most authoritative information, monitor: travel.state.gov (Department of State, for consular processing and visa fees), uscis.gov (for USCIS-related implementation notices), and federalregister.gov (for official agency implementation notices). Be cautious about unofficial websites claiming special expertise or charging fees to “help” you pay or navigate the integrity fee — always verify information directly through official .gov sources. When in doubt, consult a licensed immigration attorney.

💡 Who Has to Pay for B-1/B-2 Visas?

Every individual applicant who receives a B-1/B-2 visa stamp at a U.S. embassy or consulate after the fee’s implementation date must pay $250 per person, on top of the existing $185 MRV fee. This includes every family member who receives their own visa — spouses and children each pay $250. However, travelers from the approximately 42 Visa Waiver Program countries (UK, Japan, Germany, Australia, France, South Korea, etc.) who enter the U.S. with ESTA authorization do not receive a B visa stamp and are completely exempt from the $250 fee. If you are from a VWP-eligible country and haven’t checked whether you can use ESTA instead of applying for a B visa, do so at esta.cbp.dhs.gov before booking a visa appointment — you could save $250 per person.

💡 What Other Fee Changes Came With the Same Law?

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced several other fee changes alongside the $250 visa integrity fee: The I-94 arrival/departure record fee increased from $6 to $24 (non-refundable) for visitors entering by land, sea, or air. The ESTA fee nearly doubled from $21 to $40 (effective September 30, 2025). A new $30 EVUS charge applies to Chinese nationals with 10-year B-1/B-2 visas. The asylum application fee went from free to $100 (USCIS, effective July 22, 2025). A new Form I-94 land border fee is also included. These cumulative changes represent, as Greenberg Traurig (Jul 2025) stated, “the most significant immigration fee increases in recent memory.”

Sources: Public Law 119-21 (all fee changes; DHS authority; refund conditions); Greenberg Traurig Inside Business Immigration Jul 2025 (most significant fee increases; consular vs. USCIS distinction; refund advice); Manifest Law Nov 2025 (existing visa holders exempt; ESTA $40; I-94 $24); VisasNews Mar 2026 (Columbia Univ. Mar 2026 confirmation; no collection as of Mar 2026); CNBC Jul 18, 2025 (attorney Brown non-refundable advice); USCIS Jul 18, 2025 (asylum fee $100); Federal Register Jul 22, 2025 (cross-agency coordination); CBO refund system “several years”; esta.cbp.dhs.gov (ESTA eligibility); travel.state.gov; uscis.gov

📍 Find Immigration & Visa Resources Near You

Allow location access to find U.S. embassies, immigration attorneys, and visa assistance resources near you. Always verify the latest fee information directly at travel.state.gov and uscis.gov before scheduling a visa appointment.

Finding visa resources near you…

✅ Action Checklist — What to Do Right Now

Check if your country is in the Visa Waiver Program. Visit travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html. If your country qualifies, use ESTA instead of a B visa — you pay $40 instead of $435. This is the most impactful money-saving step for tourists.
Monitor official .gov sites for implementation date. Check travel.state.gov and uscis.gov regularly. The fee is law but not yet collected. You will want to know the exact start date before scheduling a visa interview.
Update your visa budget to include $250 per person. Even if the fee hasn’t started yet, plan for it. If you have dependents applying with you, multiply by the number of people. Treat it as non-refundable for budgeting purposes.
If you already have a valid visa, you are not affected yet. The fee applies at next renewal. Plan your renewal timeline and budget accordingly, especially if your visa expires within the next 1–3 years.
Employers: Update immigration budgets immediately. Every employee and dependent brought to the U.S. via consular processing will add $250+ to immigration costs per visa issuance. Review all pending and planned international hires and transfers.
Consult a licensed immigration attorney. The fee structure is complex, exemptions have nuances, and the refund process is undefined. An attorney can help you plan the most cost-effective path.

📞 Official Government Resources

U.S. Department of State — Visa Information: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services): uscis.gov | 1-800-375-5283
ESTA Application (Visa Waiver Program): esta.cbp.dhs.gov
VWP Country List: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html
Find a USCIS Field Office: uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/field-offices
Federal Register (Official Notices): federalregister.gov

⚠️ Important Disclaimer — Verify Before You Act

Immigration law and fee regulations change rapidly. The information in this guide reflects verified sources as of April 2026, but implementation details for the Visa Integrity Fee are still being finalized by DHS and the State Department. Always verify current fee amounts, exemptions, and collection procedures directly at travel.state.gov and uscis.gov before attending a visa interview or submitting any application. This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney.

© BudgetSeniors.com — This guide is independently researched and written for educational purposes. We are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, USCIS, DHS, or any immigration law firm. Immigration laws and fees are subject to change. Always verify with official government sources. • travel.state.gov • uscis.gov • federalregister.gov • esta.cbp.dhs.gov

Primary sources verified April 2026: Public Law 119-21 / H.R.1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Jul 4, 2025) — full statutory text; Federal Register Notice Jul 22, 2025 — “cross-agency coordination before implementing”; USCIS Notice Jul 11 & 18, 2025 — fee collection announcement and forms; Congressional Budget Office — $28.9B 2025–2034 revenue; “small number” refund seekers; “several years” to implement refund system; KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2025-139 (Jul 25, 2025) — comprehensive fee analysis; Greenberg Traurig / Inside Business Immigration (Jul 23, 2025) — employer guidance, refund planning, consular vs. USCIS distinction, family cost calculations; Manifest Law (Nov 25, 2025) — VWP exemptions, ESTA $40, I-94 $24; VisasNews (Mar 2026) — $435 total B-1/B-2, family $1,740, Columbia ISSO March 2026 confirmation, -11.6% overseas visits; Alliance for International Exchange (Nov 3, 2025) — October 1 date misconception; Boundless Immigration (Sep 30, 2025) — refund conditions; Newsweek (Jul 22, 2025) — compliance requirements, no formal refund system; BeyondBorderGlobal (Jan 29, 2026) — annual CPI increases, DHS rulemaking, $275 by 2028 projection; Collegepond (Jan 20, 2026) — F-1 student $785 total, 47% increase; CNBC (Jul 18, 2025) — attorney Brown “treat as non-refundable”; Tourism Economics — 1M visitor deterrence, $3.6B lost spending; U.S. Travel Association statement; WTCC 2025 findings

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