US introduces $250 visa integrity fee for non-immigrant applicants

Trump

The United States has announced a mandatory $250 visa integrity fee for non-immigrant travellers, with no room for waivers.

The new fee is contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by the Donald Trump administration.

The bill also permits the secretary of homeland security to set the fee higher.

Travellers may get a reimbursement if they comply with all the conditions of their visas.

These include not accepting unauthorised employment, not seeking to extend their validated stay, and departing the US not later than five days after the last day of such period.

Visitors who are granted the status of a lawful permanent resident are also qualified for a refund. However, there are no details about the procedures for such a claim.

According to the provision, the fee is paid when the visa is issued. This means potential non-immigrants whose visa requests are denied will not be charged.

Tourists, business travellers, and international students who frequent the US are likely to be the hardest hit by the new policy.

INCREASE IN PRICE FOR FORM I-94

The Form I-94 is the official record of a foreign national’s admission to the US.