New US Government Visa Integrity Fee - a Guide
New $250 Visa Integrity Fee for U.S. Visitors
The U.S. government is set to introduce a new Visa Integrity Fee of $250 for most nonimmigrant visa applicants, effective October 1, 2025.
This new fee is part of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and is intended to address the issue of visa overstays.T
he fee will be an additional cost on top of the existing visa application fees, payable to the US Embassy at the time of booking the face to face interview.
It will be in addition to the Visa interview Fee (MRV Fee) - currently $185
It will apply to a wide range of nonimmigrant visa categories, including visas such as the J-1.
Individuals from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (ie going on holiday/ travelling on an ESTA↗ an not requiring a visa will not be subject to this new fee.
A key feature of the Visa Integrity Fee is that it is designed to be refundable.
The primary goal is to incentivise visa holders to comply with the terms of their admission to the United States.
To be eligible for a refund, a visa holder must:
Depart the U.S. within their authorized period of stay.
Not engage in unauthorized employment.
Otherwise, adhere to the conditions of their visa.
However, the specific procedures for how individuals can claim and receive this refund have not yet been publicly detailed by the U.S. government. It remains unclear what the process will entail and the timeline for receiving the reimbursement.
We’ll be able to update this information once we receive further guidance