President Donald Trump’s administration will require foreign travelers to pay a $250 “visa integrity fee” that can be refunded if travelers do not overstay their visas or accept authorized employment while visiting the United States.
According to CNBC, the $250 “visa integrity fee” was included as part of the president’s “big, beautiful bill” that was signed into law on July 4. The outlet noted that the new visa fee will apply to anyone visiting the United States who needs nonimmigrant visas, including international students, tourists, and business travelers.
A provision included in the president’s “big, beautiful bill” states, “In addition to any other fee authorized by law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require the payment of a fee, equal to… such amount as the Secretary of Homeland Security may establish.”
CNBC reported that some foreign travelers, such as individuals traveling from Japan, Australia, and certain European countries, may not be required to have visas as part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. The outlet noted that foreign travelers have the opportunity to have the “visa integrity fee” returned to them if they meet certain conditions, such as not overstaying their visa for over five days and not accepting unauthorized employment while staying in the country.
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According to CNBC, while the new visa fee is expected to cost foreign travelers $250 throughout Fiscal Year 2025, the provision in the “big, beautiful bill” allows the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to increase it to a higher fee. Additionally, the visa fee will be adjusted for inflation following Fiscal Year 2025.
The new visa fee will be paid by foreign travelers when they are issued a visa to travel to the United States, according to CNBC. In addition to the “visa integrity fee” and other fees, the president’s bill increased the “Form I-94 fee” from $6 to $24.
In a statement to CNBC, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said, “President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill provides the necessary policies and resources to restore integrity in our nation’s immigration system.”
