The United States government has introduced a mandatory $250 visa integrity fee for all non-immigrant visa applicants, with no option for a waiver.
Gatekeepers News reports that the development is part of the provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a legislative package passed under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Under the new law, the Secretary of Homeland Security is also empowered to increase the amount at any time. However, applicants who fully comply with the terms of their visas may be eligible for a refund.
To qualify, travellers must avoid unauthorised employment, refrain from extending their stay beyond the approved period, and leave the U.S. no later than five days after their visa expires.
Those who eventually obtain lawful permanent residency may also apply for a refund, though procedures for this remain unclear.
The fee is only charged upon visa issuance, meaning applicants whose visa requests are denied will not have to pay it. Still, the policy is expected to hit frequent U.S. visitors the hardest, particularly tourists, business travellers, and international students.
Additionally, the law imposes a higher charge for the issuance of Form I-94, which is the official record of a foreign national’s entry and exit from the United States.
Previously set at $6 for land travellers, the cost has now risen to $24 per form, although it remains uncertain which traveller categories will be affected.
The legislation also introduces new or increased fees for several other immigration services. For users of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), primarily citizens of visa waiver countries in Europe and Asia, a minimum fee of $13 per travel authorization is now mandated, with room for annual inflation-based increases.
Other significant changes include:
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS):
– $500 application fee
– $550 for initial Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
– $275 for EAD renewals
• Asylum Applicants:
– $100 annual fee while applications are pending
– $550 for initial EAD
– $275 for EAD renewals
• Humanitarian Parole:
– $1,000 parole application fee
– $550 for initial parole-based EAD
– $275 for renewals
• Immigration Court Filings:
– $1,500 for adjustment of status
– $600 for cancellation of removal
– $900 for most appeals and motions
These fee increases mark a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, placing greater financial responsibility on foreigners seeking to enter or regularize their stay in the United States.
