For travelers planning to visit the United States, the financial barrier to entry may soon become significantly higher. A proposed "Visa Integrity Fee" could nearly double the cost of obtaining a US visa, casting a shadow over upcoming major events including the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026 and select FIFA World Cup matches.
The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill mandates this additional fee for all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including tourists (B visas), business travelers, and international students (F visas). Priced initially at $250, the fee may be adjusted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in future years. Crucially, this represents an extra charge beyond existing visa application fees, which already exceed $200 for B and F visas. When combined with recent increases to the I-94 form fee, total visa costs could easily surpass $400.
The fee would be collected upon visa issuance, with applicants denied visas exempt from payment. The legislation specifies that refunds may be available only if visa holders comply with all conditions and overstay their visas by no more than five days after expiration. However, implementation details remain unclear, particularly regarding collection mechanisms, as DHS—which would administer the fee—doesn't actually process visa applications.
Congressional estimates project the fee could generate approximately $28.9 billion in revenue between 2025 and 2034, helping reduce the federal deficit. Industry analysts, however, express skepticism about the likelihood of refunds, advising applicants not to expect reimbursement due to the complexity of verification processes and interagency coordination challenges.
Data from the Congressional Research Service shows nonimmigrant overstay rates between 1-2% from fiscal years 2016 through 2022. Of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the US, about 42% entered legally before overstaying their visas. The new fee appears designed to address this issue through financial deterrence.
With these cost increases coinciding with major upcoming events expected to draw international visitors, the changes may significantly impact travel budgets. Prospective visitors to the US would be well-advised to monitor policy developments and adjust their financial planning accordingly. For many, the path to visiting America appears to be growing increasingly expensive.