New $250 ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ for US Travelers Incoming

The U.S. will implement a new “visa integrity fee” of at least $250 for international visitors, in addition to the existing visa application costs, as part of a recent domestic policy bill introduced by the Trump administration.

This fee will be applicable to all foreign travelers who require nonimmigrant visas to enter the country, including tourists, business professionals, international students, and other temporary visitors. The State Department reported that nearly 11 million nonimmigrant visas were granted in the fiscal year 2024.

Visitors from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program—including Australia and many European nations—who stay for 90 days or fewer will be exempt from this fee, as they do not require a visa.

The fee is due at the time of visa issuance, with no exemptions allowed. Nevertheless, travelers who comply with all visa prerequisites may qualify for a refund after their stay, though specifics about the reimbursement process are still unclear.

Immigration lawyer Steven A. Brown from Reddy Neumann Brown PC described this new fee as a “refundable security deposit” in a recent blog entry, emphasizing the lack of information regarding the refund process.

“It’s difficult to ascertain the exact purpose of the fee,” Brown mentioned in an email to CNN. “Generally, immigration fees are intended to cover costs associated with adjudication or issuance,” but he also noted that the refund option might suggest returning all collected fees. “Ideally, there would be no visa overstays or violations.”

The Department of Homeland Security, responsible for enforcing this new fee, has not yet shared details about the refund process or how the policy will be rolled out.

A representative from the Department of Homeland Security remarked, “The visa integrity fee requires collaboration across various agencies before it can be implemented,” in a statement to CNN.

The State Department indicated that the fee was established to support the administration’s objectives of enhancing immigration enforcement, discouraging visa overstays, and bolstering border security.

Any fees that are not refunded will be “allocated to the general fund of the Treasury,” as stated in the legislative provision.