In the coming weeks, the United States is adding a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for visitors who require visas. We first learned about this several weeks back, as it was buried in President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” but we now have more details of the implementation.
In this post:
Millions of US visitors face hefty “visa integrity fee”
As of October 1, 2025, the United States will introduce a new $250 “visa integrity fee,” which is supposed to apply to all visitors who come to the United States on non-immigrant visas, so that includes tourists, international students, and business travelers. In 2023, the United States issued more than 10 million of these visas, just for context.
Let me emphasize that this is specifically for those visiting on visas, so those coming from visa waiver countries wouldn’t have to pay this. This would apply to those requesting tourist visas from countries like Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, etc.
This new “visa integrity fee” is in addition to all the other types of fees that already exist when applying for visas. With this, the total cost of applying for a visa will be $424, among the highest in the world.
So, what is this new “visa integrity fee?” The idea is that the fee is essentially a “deposit,” of sorts, to make sure you behave while you’re in the United States. Visa holders who are subject to the fee may later be reimbursed, as long as they comply with their visa’s restrictions, like leaving the United States before the visa expires, and not working without authorization.
The United States hasn’t yet finalized how travelers will be refunded. Furthermore, keep in mind that some visas are valid for up to 10 years (and multiple entries), and travelers wouldn’t be eligible for a refund until their visa expires.
The United States is also raising the Form I-94 fee from $6 to $24, and adding a new $100 fee for asylum seekers. My goodness, the United States sure is turning into an ultra low cost carrier!
What impact will this fee have on tourism to the US?
Essentially, the United States will be holding a $250 deposit from roughly 10 million visitors annually. If the goal is to make sure people follow the rules while in the United States (which I can understand), then it doesn’t seem like potentially paying a $250 penalty will be a sufficient deterrent to not violate the rules. Like, that’s less than the fee you could face if your car is towed.
If someone wants to overstay their visa or work while in the United States, I don’t think the $250 fee will do much to impact their behavior. Is the intent here simply to try to deter non-rich tourists from visiting?
That says nothing of the logistics of this. So far, the United States has explained how the fee will be collected, but hasn’t yet published how the fee will be refunded, for those who don’t violate any rules. That’s obviously a major question, and I can’t imagine that handling refunds for 10 million people per year is going to be a terribly seamless process.
This new fee comes amid a larger tourism slump in the United States. Initially, 2025 was supposed to be the year where the United States broke its pre-pandemic record of 79.4 million inbound visitors. However, that’s not how the situation has played out.
For example, in July 2025, we saw a 3.1% decrease in year-over-year visitors, making it the fifth month of the year where we saw a decline in visitors. The World Travel & Tourism Council has projected that international visitor spending in the United States will fall to $169 billion this year, down from $181 billion last year.
This new “visa integrity fee” is expected to hit countries from Central and South America the hardest, which have actually been countries where we’ve seen an increase in tourism year-over-year. For example, visits from Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, have all been up considerably this year, but I suspect these new fees may act as a deterrent.
Bottom line
As of October 2025, the United States is adding a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for foreign visitors who require a visa for the United States. The intent is that if you follow all the rules in the country, you’ll get a refund when your visa expires (some are valid for up to a decade). While we now have all the details of how this is being implemented, we don’t yet know how the refund process will work.
Tourism in the United States is already declining considerably, with a year-over-year reduction in spending of over $10 billion. I imagine that this new fee will put even more of a damper on tourism to the United States, especially from countries that actually have seen tourism growth in recent times.
What do you make of this new “visa integrity fee?”
Lucky, I'm very confused if this fee applies to folks who already have a US Visa and will enter the country after 01Oct, or if it applies only to new US Visa application or renewals. Any insights? Looks like the State Department will collect the fee, and pass it to DHS. If that is the case, it will not be collected at the port of entry, only during the Visa application process?
About time the I-94 fee is raised. It's been $6 for well over 15 years. Why not charge visitors more? Americans are charged way more just going to a hotel or wherever!
Also, for an American to go to Mexico, while they don not require a visa, they are charged an FMM tourist fee of about $37-$43 EACH TIME! A Mexican near the border can pay $6 for an I-94 that is good for...
About time the I-94 fee is raised. It's been $6 for well over 15 years. Why not charge visitors more? Americans are charged way more just going to a hotel or wherever!
Also, for an American to go to Mexico, while they don not require a visa, they are charged an FMM tourist fee of about $37-$43 EACH TIME! A Mexican near the border can pay $6 for an I-94 that is good for 6 months and allows them to go anywhere in the US...
This isnt that big of a deal. The Brazilians, Chinese, Argentinians and Indians who have visas are upper or middle class people, and many of them are very wealthy. A US visa is a status symbol in many cultures. Most are coming for shopping and vacation and save hundreds of dollars on their shopping of luxury items, clothes, etc, so this this is unlikely to make any big difference to most visa applicants, but it will get more money to the US treasury.
I dont understand how someone who logically thinks and actually knows about visas and world travel would have any issue with this...
For what it's worth, an American near the border can walk in to Mexico, and get the FMM for free if they plan to remain in Mexico for less than 7 days.
There is always Canada for shopping and Europe for culture :)
fuck that
So a family of 4 from Argentina or Brazil or Hong Kong will now pay $1,000 USD on top of all other US Visa fees. Good luck to the tourism industry especially in South Florida that relies of Latin American tourists or California / Las Vegas that relies on Asian tourists.
And for Americans who travel internationally, get ready to pay reciprocal higher Visa fees and folks from these countries hating us but being nice to...
So a family of 4 from Argentina or Brazil or Hong Kong will now pay $1,000 USD on top of all other US Visa fees. Good luck to the tourism industry especially in South Florida that relies of Latin American tourists or California / Las Vegas that relies on Asian tourists.
And for Americans who travel internationally, get ready to pay reciprocal higher Visa fees and folks from these countries hating us but being nice to us only because we are "rich Americans flaunting our USD". FAFO...
Not an issue for most people I know. We used to visit the US one or twice a year with a spend each time of $10-15,000 each trip plus business airfares often on AA.
With the onset of an increasingly authoritarian fascist type government in the US we won't be coming back ever. We are not alone so see how your hotel, car rental,airline revenues from overseas visitors looks in 12 months time.
you are absolutely right. This present Government does not no what harm they are doing.
The "most people you know" are not the "most people affected" by this lunacy.
I'm guessing most of the folks in this thread who are responding with approval of this charge don't travel too much if at all, which is good, because then they won't scream "unfair" when reciprocal charges are levied against American Tourists
The problem is that there is no way to be refunded for many people. Consider that after the visa expires if they renew there would be still $250 on file with the US government. I think if someone is "good" after a certain amount of time or a certain number of visits they should be able to get their refund. The amount in interest and the number of people who would not claim their refund would make the US money.
Been to the USA 4 times but now resort fees all the hidden tax’s etcetc plus tipping constantly alongside the difference between the Australian dollar and the US greenback won’t make me rush back.
Asia much better deal than Hawaii or New York .
No value to be ripped off even before you get there!!
Don’t get me wrong -Las Vegas
And New York along with other places inside America are excellent .
Just becoming ridiculous as far as cost is concerned!!
I really hate this. It wasn't that long ago that visas were less than $100, something equivalent to the actual cost of issuing them. Now, like tariffs, they're more like a patchwork attempt to pay the national debt without raising the dreaded taxes on millionaires. Of course, the affected countries will implement reciprocal charges so US citizens will have to pay $400+ to visit many countries as well. The world is closing up and America...
I really hate this. It wasn't that long ago that visas were less than $100, something equivalent to the actual cost of issuing them. Now, like tariffs, they're more like a patchwork attempt to pay the national debt without raising the dreaded taxes on millionaires. Of course, the affected countries will implement reciprocal charges so US citizens will have to pay $400+ to visit many countries as well. The world is closing up and America is getting less great every week.
More like an idiot racist president fee
@TravelinPenis sure is triggered today...
The lack of integrity from the US fee.
All part of the to maga scheme to disconnect the United States from the non-white parts of the world.
And considering how it's gone so far, those fees will most likely end up "pocketed" for activities not legally sanctioned by Congress.
I would not expect any refunds for any of the applicants, not from these people.
So a country that votes for a felon for president now requires visitors to pay an “integrity fee”. Webster, please use this as an example of irony.
The,”Lack of Integrity” fee.
I think the Smithsonian should charge $50 per visit for anyone from say Turkey that gives free museum entry to their citizens but charges all others.
Not sure what the connect with the Integrity Fee is. Personally i don't find anything wrong in a country allowing its own citizens free entry to its museums when their taxes are helping fund those institutions.
It'll be better for them not to come at all. The US is a shit show in a dumpster fire on a clown car on a runaway train about to Rudolf Hess itself off the cliff of human history.
Amen, sadly
For countries in which there's a high degree of illegal stays it's a perfect idea. People with a good job and stable, productive life back home aren't going to stay and can afford to pay the $250. People that get a cheap airfare with the intent purpose of just staying here, increasingly by milking the government teat can and should stay home.
What milk can? Or are we talking about eating pets ?
Like pick pockets/scammers from Romania?
No, I think more along the lines of felons that want to be president.
$250 might be 2 days worth of work for an overstaying migrant in the US. Hardly a deterrent, merely a marginally longer initial time investment requirement.
You are pretty small minded, like all MAGAS.
The ESTA fee is also going up.
“So far, the United States has explained how the fee will be collected, but hasn’t yet published how the fee will be refunded…”
Sort of how the United States explained that they were breaking up foreign families, and separating infants and toddlers from their parents, but never published or even thought about how families would be reunited.
Making America great again means empty Olympic venues and no attendance in the USA for FIFA ‘26 games.
Will have a huge impact on Florida tourism as many south Americans visit to go shopping. Adding $1000 to a family means they'll go to europe instead
If they fly to London in J, they will be paying a lot more in taxes that will not be refunded.
Good for them, Florida is a sh?thole state
I just paid $400 for Thailand DTV visa. Did they just commit a human rights violation? Should I feel victimized? Oh wait, no, I'm a straight white male conservative evil oppressor, not possible, nevermind.
Apples to oranges, sweetie. You’re not visiting Thailand on a tourist visa, your comparison is bullshit, as is your intellectual dishonesty. MAGA indeed.
Thailand visa free for US visitors on stays less than 60 days. Don’t be a cuck, Mantis.
Thailand is visa free for almost every travellers for upto 60 days with possibility to extend for a small fee, what you are mentioning is a long stay visa that has nothing to do with your usual tourist. You are lying just like your master
Considering how the US dollar is sinking this year, the visa fee refund in dollars is going to be worth less than the initial payment after currency conversions in both directions.
So frustrating as I have trip planned for Argentina in December. Guess I’ll be paying a reciprocal fee.
This is a good policy, if you cannot afford it then you shouldn’t really be coming anyway. Simple.
U okay?
To my very special new friend Jack. Please be aware that trolling new members, etc, is certainly not cricket Jack. Doing so puts you into the same box as other bullying trolls like Eskimo, Plain Jane, etc, etc. By continuing with the practice will undoubtedly bring your trolling posts to the attention of the troll-baiter. Thereafter, you may not be so willing to be rude, crude and repulsive to others.
Americans, get ready to start paying a whole lot of recipcrocal visa integrity fees.
US citizens who are adversely affected as a result of this have a choice: vote. Then, there is already approved hurricane relief from 2024 that FEMA now won't release -- vote. Then, there are the cuts at the National Weather Service, Storm Warning Center, National Hurricane Center -- vote. Then, Medicare treatment now requires pre-authorization and decisions are outsourced to a private company -- vote. (Who got that contract?) Etc., etc.
What is your favourite response Jack …. “Looser”?
People did vote in November, they just didn't vote for your candidate or her ideas on open borders, cancel culture, inflation, and ignoring parents involvement in their kids education and wellbeing.
More eligible voters didn't vote than those who voted for the felon.
Try harder.
what do you like best ? The Chaos ? Corruption ? or Cruelty ? WAIT !!! ALL OF THE ABOVE !!
How much will this program cost to implement in the end? The accountability and refunding seems to be missing here. Much like everything else this administration has done.
I’m a German citizen and planning to apply for a B1/B2 visa since I might need to fly with a carrier that isn’t part of the Visa Waiver program. While searching for detailed guides, I also landed on nba2k20-apk.com by mistake — does anyone know if sites like that can actually provide reliable travel or visa information, or should I only rely on official embassy sources?
This comment is spam. It's a ploy to get people to a game site.
I’ll play the game Jack and remind you of your common or garden usual one word comment …. “Looser”, yes?
I am a German citizen and need a B1/B2 to fly to the US on carriers that do not participate in the Visa Waiver program (e.g private jets).
Do I need to pay the integrity fee as well or are codes from visa waiver countries excluded?
Yes. If you're flying on private jets, are you truly concerned about the fee?
Your comment is sounding as if you are envious of Hej, is that right Jack, the “Looser”!
Latin America has been a bright spot in the otherwise down-in-in-the-dumps tourism sector. This dumb move is going to change that.
Considering there is an exchange rate, one would think twice as that would be a big add on to the already existing fees. This is just a deterrent for ppl to come especially as it's targeting lower earnings countries who just happen to be brown and not white. FIFA and the IOC should take away their hosting rights for the soccer world cup and Olympics
Lol. The only outfits more corrupt than the felon-in-chief are the IOC and FIFA.
America is a disgrace.
Not as much of a disgrace as your country, for sure. I have no qualms with you calling the current administration as a disgrace, though.
Bullshit. The US IS a disgrace compared to the vast majority of countries out there nowadays
It really isn't, and I say this as a European.
Do you feel better about yourself now?
As Ben pointed out, this is going to significantly hurt tourism from Latin America, where upper middle class families often go to Florida for shopping and sightseeing. $250 per person is too much for a family of four, and is more than enough to sway them to visit Europe where they don’t require a visa.
On the other hand, no state is more deserving of a slump in tourism than Florida…
I thought that taxing the rich was a moral obligation?
Andrew, on the right side of the pond, taxing the working and retired population is certainly a priority with the loony, leftist Labour government we currently suffer under. Many who can afford to do so have escaped already, many more are planning to follow in due course.
As far as the U.S. tourist industry is concerned, with the advent of the proposed Tourist Visa Tax, Walt Disney and his colleagues, will not be attracting as many visitors to Orlando in future.
Not really. That is not how the tourist from Latin America mostly behave (at least from Brazil, where I come from). The extra 250 will increase a little bit the cost, but not so much. To travel to USA you are already talking about trips with high budgets (it is pretty expensive here already) and this 250 which will not make a big difference.
Now the added complexity for the visa (interviews are back...
Not really. That is not how the tourist from Latin America mostly behave (at least from Brazil, where I come from). The extra 250 will increase a little bit the cost, but not so much. To travel to USA you are already talking about trips with high budgets (it is pretty expensive here already) and this 250 which will not make a big difference.
Now the added complexity for the visa (interviews are back to be mandatory how they historically where until a couple of years ago), this will discourage some people. In Brazil (and I assume in Latin America), people are used to bureaucracy and paying for everything (It is not so cheap to travel there too), so don’t overestimate the impact of this.
On the other hand, this also should not have impact in discouraging people to overstay their visas, which is the goal, so not a great idea
MAGA are the dumbest people in the developed world, and maybe in the entire world. America was well on its way to becoming third-world before Trump, but he will get it the rest of the way there.
True that.
hear! hear!
I guess your explanation is your way of defining yourself as MAGA given your own obvious dumbness
Clearly you haven't been to a third world country, redditor