Overview

• The One Big Beautiful Bill, signed on July 4, established a mandatory $250 fee for most B-1/B-2, F/M, H-1B/H-4 and J visa applications.
• Although scheduled for late 2025, agencies have yet to set an official launch date or issue regulations detailing how the fee will be collected.
• Applicants who depart on time or legally change status should be eligible for refunds, but no formal reimbursement procedures have been defined.
• Travel industry leaders warn the surcharge will act as a self-imposed tariff that could deter tourists, students and business travelers.
• The fee will be indexed annually for inflation and added on top of existing application, biometric and reciprocity charges, with asylum seekers facing an extra $100 levy.