Overview

• Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a $250 Visa Integrity Fee will apply to nonimmigrant visas issued from January 2026 and is refundable only if holders depart on time and comply with visa terms.
• The Department of Homeland Security and State Department have not released procedural rules or clarified the refund process, leaving sponsors and applicants in limbo.
• United Work and Travel projects a 10–20 percent drop in J-1 cultural exchange participation, warning of severe labor shortages at hotels, resorts and seasonal attractions.
• For applicants from low-income countries such as Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, the surcharge can equal roughly a month’s wages, potentially barring many from participating.
• Industry groups also highlight that standard nonimmigrant visa fees will more than double and the ESTA application fee will rise from $21 to $40, changes they say amount to a self-imposed tariff on travel spending.