The United States is adding a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for visitors who require visas, though as of now there are more questions than answers.
In this post:
Millions of US visitors face hefty “visa integrity fee”
We recently saw President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed into law, which has lots of implications for the country. There’s one that will impact travelers, which is particularly confusing. I’m not here to dramatize anything, so you can read the bill at this link, and specifically, look at section 100007.
The bill calls for the introduction of 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.
According to the text of the bill, the fee is effective the current federal fiscal year, which actually ends in a couple of months — it runs October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. For subsequent years, the amount of the fee can be adjusted based on inflation. That “visa integrity fee” is in addition to all the other types of fees that already exist for those applying for a visa.
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.
However, the law doesn’t specify how the fee will be collected, or how travelers will be reimbursed if they comply with restrictions. It’s also not clear if this will apply retroactively, or what, since this supposedly applies for the current fiscal year. A government spokesperson has simply stated that “the visa integrity fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementation.”
The United States also plans to raise the Form I-94 fee from $6 to $24, and add a new $100 fee for asylum seekers. My goodness, the United States sure is turning into an ultra low cost carrier!
I’m confused by the logistics & motivation of this
Is there something I’m missing, or can anyone fully make sense of this? 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?
Next, the logistics here just seem like a nightmare. Will this be made part of the process of applying for a visa? And how will refunds be issued? Will they have to be requested, or will they be automatic, as long as you don’t get into trouble? You’ve gotta assume that a not-insignificant percent of people may find themselves having issues with getting the refund, and I can only imagine how the “customer service” will be in those situations.
Look, I’ll admit I don’t usually read entire government bills, because I’d have to set aside days at a time to do so. But it’s fascinating to actually read the language here, because it really feels like the “visa integrity fee” concept was drawn up without much thought being put into how this will actually be executed.
Bottom line
The United States is adding a new $250 “visa integrity fee” for foreign visitors who require a visa for the United States. The mandate is clear, but the logistics of how this fee will be charged are a lot more confusing. This is supposed to apply as of the current fiscal year, so expect that this will be implemented in the very near future.
What do you make of this new “visa integrity fee?”
This would require a new, big, bloated beaurocracy to implement. Isn't that was DOGE and Trump were against?
Agree with others that this may have been more of an accounting scheme during writing the bill.
What was it that Kirby said the other day about "permanent" ....something related to profitability?
Ben, I am confused by you posting that you “are confused by the logistics & motivation of this”.
We all know that this president and his administration are clearly xenophobic and are making new rules to target foreigners. They are probably going to use the funds raised with this new fee to pay for more ICE raids on more hardworking strawberry pickers and day laborers in Home Depot parking lots.
It says "The Secretary of Homeland Security may provide a reimbursement..." It doesn't say "shall"
I saw an estimate that showed how much this fee was going to raise.
It failed to take into account that a lot of people just won't come, and the amount of money they would have spent here would have dwarfed this dumb $250 fee.
One would expect AeroB13a to have something to say about this but Tim Dunn doesn't seem to care so why would Aero? (or until US eastern time anyway)
So it's basically a deposit, meaning you get refunded if you abide by your visa conditions. As opposed to a fee which is non-refundable, no matter how you 'behave'. How terrible! The injustice of being refunded by Uncle Sam!! The sky is falling in...
Until the U.K, EU, Japan, etc all require the same from you. I will bet you are the first to come here and scream how unjust and outrageous it is.
I think most travelers will probably treat the $250 dollars like anybody else who has ever loaned Trump or Trump associates money and consider it gone forever.
Pretty much any country will also quickly reciprocate if they start getting charged this fee (perhaps some very tourism heavy places won't). But, "Thanks Don" for making it more expensive for American's to travel too.
I feel truly sorry for people who have to travel to that place. I'd rather go to Pyongyang than New York at this point.
It’s a shame, because there are amazing sights and experiences to be had in the United States, but with even those who arrive on commercial flights with a valid ESTA and passport issued by nations that have been long-term US allies can run afoul of a tinpot Hitler at passport control who just happens to be having a crappy day.
I feel so blessed to have been countless times to the United States (before 2025). More than I can count. Really. From doing crazy weekend mileage runs to spending 14 hours layovers.
Right now with this current administration, I really don't wanna go there. At all.
When you have a bunch of rednecks who’ve probably never left the country writing legislation, this is what you get. The embarrassment continues…
I suppose that this will also apply to connecting passengers, given the lack of “sterille transfers” in the US?
I suppose you can start by consuming news from an actual press organization not bloggers, TikTok or other social media.
@Eskimo
I suppose you can find a hole and crawl in it. One where the narrative is always yours. Oh, never mind, you are already there.
I am curious to see what the cost to administer this program will be. In the long run, it will likely cost a lot more to administer than what will be collected. It is also likely to discourage tourists from coming to the country and spending money. $250 is unlikely to stop somebody who is planning to overstay a visa. Strange. It makes you wonder whether some private company will be "hired" to administer the...
I am curious to see what the cost to administer this program will be. In the long run, it will likely cost a lot more to administer than what will be collected. It is also likely to discourage tourists from coming to the country and spending money. $250 is unlikely to stop somebody who is planning to overstay a visa. Strange. It makes you wonder whether some private company will be "hired" to administer the program, how much they will be paid, and to whom they are related.
With Trump, cruelty is the point. Not efficacy. Efficacy, when it happens, is a collateral benefit. This is a man who couldn't run a casino profitably.
@Tony
Not only in congress. On this site as well. You only have to take a passing glance at some of the comments that are based solely on xenophobia and bigotry that give support to these inane policies.
While America is being fleeced right in front of our eyes.
LBJ said, "If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
So yeah - same playbook. Donald is using white rural America's bigotry to distract from all the ways he's fleecing them.
Government needs every penny it can hoard with all the unchecked money printing debt.
Welcome to the US…if you have $250. Starting to feel like we are being modeled after countries like Qatar and the UAE. If you went to see where Trump wants to take us just look at the GCC.
Yeah, not understanding all of this. Like, why charge more for foreigners to visit our national parks? What country does that? Are we trying to discourage tourism/visitors? To what end?
Actually a lot of countries do. The difference in price between locals and foreign prices in Argentina and South Africa is eye watering.
I'll be extremely disappointed not to be able to buy my $80 America the Beautiful pass any more.
Just another way to isolate the US from the World. And if a foreign country ‘retaliates’ by coming up with their own absurd BS then it goes up to what, $500? And refundable my buttocks. The only way to get Trumplethinskin to pay up on anything is to take him to court and what ordinary traveler is going to that that? The US has raised the bar on what it means to be a Banana...
Just another way to isolate the US from the World. And if a foreign country ‘retaliates’ by coming up with their own absurd BS then it goes up to what, $500? And refundable my buttocks. The only way to get Trumplethinskin to pay up on anything is to take him to court and what ordinary traveler is going to that that? The US has raised the bar on what it means to be a Banana Republic. As a once proud American I dutifully encourage all foreigners to take your money somewhere where you’re appreciated. Where you won’t get thrown in the gulag on arrival for a random Facebook post.
This was done to make the imaginary numbers work for the bill. The bill also assumes growth that is not realistic.
It’s called lying and while both parties are guilty one party has mastered it!
I don’t see anything wrong with this if refundable. Follow the rules, leave on time, get your money back. We already know what the counter to this is, our current reality is the total lack of regard for immigration rules by a large block. Literally look at any other country to see how screwed you get if you don’t follow your visa rules. It baffles me how I’ll likely be called a racist Maggot for...
I don’t see anything wrong with this if refundable. Follow the rules, leave on time, get your money back. We already know what the counter to this is, our current reality is the total lack of regard for immigration rules by a large block. Literally look at any other country to see how screwed you get if you don’t follow your visa rules. It baffles me how I’ll likely be called a racist Maggot for this post, yet I dare anyone with half a brain to research Saudi / Japan * insert country here * work visa, refugee, citizenship requirements.
But what percentage of people coming to the US on these types of visas are either over staying and/or working in the US?
Contraire IMK. People will call you stupid and not racist. The whole logistics around collecting, tracking, and refunding the fees will be a mess. How will USCIS know if I worked for cash at my friend’s/relative’s/someone’s store/motel/office etc? If there was an easy way to find out, so many illegals wouldn’t be working in the first place.
If someone does work, they will most likely make more than $250 in a week. So, they wouldn’t...
Contraire IMK. People will call you stupid and not racist. The whole logistics around collecting, tracking, and refunding the fees will be a mess. How will USCIS know if I worked for cash at my friend’s/relative’s/someone’s store/motel/office etc? If there was an easy way to find out, so many illegals wouldn’t be working in the first place.
If someone does work, they will most likely make more than $250 in a week. So, they wouldn’t fret over forfeiting the Visa Integrity fees.
I can beat the shit out of my kid to discipline him/her or take a much more nuanced and balanced approach. Just like that issue isn’t admins’s policy to administer immigration laws, but the manner of administration.
It seems like a $250 deposit. If reliably refunded upon departure and if other countries impose a $250 deposit on Americans, I would not mind.
The US should have reciprocal entry free of charges from New Zealand, Australia, EU, and the UK. The NZ charge has discouraged me from flying to Australia with a stopover of a day in Auckland.
Im sure they’ll be devastated
Likewise, be sarcastic, and support the US fee! I did not know that Vijay was a MAGA-Trumpster!
Worse yet is that other countries will retaliate in like. Americans will then be subject to additional fees around the world. It's like a tariff war for travelers.
this is a test comment
Lets hope that others will retaliate!
There're more and more dim-witted people with big ego in Congress. Few things that they do make sense. The system is broken and keeps getting worse.
@Tony
Not only in congress. On this site as well. You only have to take a passing glance at some of the comments that are based solely on xenophobia and bigotry that give support to these inane policies.
While America is being fleeced right in front of our eyes.
This is banana republic bullshit. We’re supposed to be better than this.
Well…apparently you’re not.
Neither are you, PL
Agree. Not my America any longer. A wanna be king who crushes anyone who crosses him. In my 66 years never this bad.....
One of those concepts that will go away real fast once major tourism destinations threaten the US with reciprocity
President Tweedledumb and Vice President Tweedlefuq are doing there very best to ensure that the world wants to visit the US as much as they want to visit anywhere else. And in typical fashion, they've passed a bill that makes all elements of it unclear, because they're not detail men.
Yet another reason to avoid the US. The ESTA fee is also doubling.