Overview

• The One Big Beautiful Bill Act requires nonimmigrant visa applicants to pay a non-waivable $250 integrity fee in addition to all existing application and reciprocity charges.
• The fee covers tourist, student, work and exchange visas issued between Oct. 1, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2025, after which the Department of Homeland Security may adjust the rate.
• The law also sets a minimum $13 fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization and a $30 fee for the Electronic Visa Update System, both tied to annual inflation.
• Agencies have not announced when or how payments will be collected or which department will manage the process, leaving travelers and consular staff without clear procedures.
• Travel and industry groups warn that the added charges could suppress tourism revenue and visitor spending as the US prepares for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.