US Visa Integrity Fee: What to Know as October 1, 2025 Approaches

(UNITED STATES) The new US Visa Integrity Fee, a $250 charge on all nonimmigrant visa issuances, is set to start on October 1, 2025, yet key parts of the rollout remain unsettled. As of September 5, agencies have not finalized how the fee will be collected, how any reimbursements might work, or how systems at consulates will handle the extra payment. The Department of State and Department of Homeland Security both acknowledge the deadline, but they have not released the operational rules applicants need to plan with confidence.

Background and Legal Authority

Congress created the US Visa Integrity Fee on July 4, 2025, when H.R.1—the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (Public Law 119-21)—was signed into law. The statute sets the effective date for collection at visa issuance starting October 1, 2025, and directs cross‑agency coordination to manage payment and any later reimbursements.

A July 22 Federal Register notice signaled that collection procedures would be addressed in a future publication, not in the summer 2025 fee updates. That notice helps explain the current gap in instructions and why consulates and applicants lack operational clarity.

Who Pays and When

• The fee is $250 per person, per visa issuance.
• It applies to core consular visa categories, including:
  • Visitors: B-1/B-2
  • Students and exchange visitors: F-1, J-1 (and dependents)
  • Work visas: H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN (and dependents, e.g., H-4, F-2, J-2)
• The fee is charged only when a visa is issued, not when an application is filed.
• If a consular officer refuses a visa, the fee is not charged.
• This fee is in addition to MRV fees, SEVIS fees, and any reciprocity fees.

Exemptions and Practical Effects

• Limited exemptions exist: Visa Waiver Program travelers and most Canadian citizens are exempt, per the law and agency summaries.
• For most applicants, the fee is expected to be collected at the time of visa printing and insertion into the passport.
• Because the payment point is issuance, travelers who can remain in valid status in the United States—for example, by changing or extending status with USCIS instead of traveling for a new visa—may have fewer occasions to pay the fee. Attorneys are already discussing this planning detail with clients.

Inflation Adjustment and Potential Rulemaking

• Starting in FY 2026, the fee will rise each year based on inflation, using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
• Thus, the $250 baseline will increase annually.
• DHS may consider further adjustments through rulemaking, which would include a public comment process.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates employers, universities, and families are preparing for both the immediate charge and these automatic increases. Multi‑year study and work programs could involve multiple visa issuances and repeated fees.

Reimbursement: The Theory vs. Reality

• The law includes a theoretical reimbursement after a visa expires, but only if the visa holder met all terms:
  • No overstay
  • No unauthorized work
  • Timely departure
  • Clean, legal change of status (if applicable)
• There is currently no published system, form, or timeline for requesting refunds.
• Officials have not explained how compliance would be confirmed across agencies.
• Legal practitioners broadly view near‑term refunds as unlikely until DHS and DOS outline a process and build verification tools.

Important: There is no operational guidance yet on refunds. Applicants should assume refunds are unlikely in the near term and retain all documentation from consular visits.

Policy Changes Overview

What changes first is the total cost to reach the United States for travel, study, or work.

• A family of four seeking visitor visas could see an extra $1,000 added to the usual MRV and reciprocity fees.
• International students and scholars will face higher upfront costs on top of SEVIS and school fees.
• Employers sponsoring H-1B, L-1, O-1, or TN workers must decide whether to:
  1. Pay the new charge for each consular issuance, or
  2. Ask workers to cover it themselves.

  This is a sensitive decision affecting hiring, retention, and morale.

Universities warn the fee could deter applicants from lower‑income regions and create new advising challenges. International student offices expect increased inquiries as students weigh whether to travel abroad for visa stamping or avoid consular visits by maintaining status inside the U.S.

Business groups, especially small and mid‑sized firms, worry about added cost and paperwork during a period of tight global recruitment.

Agency Roles and Outstanding Questions

• The State Department is expected to run front‑end collection at consulates.
• DHS will set fee levels and handle any reimbursement framework.
• USCIS has said the US Visa Integrity Fee is not part of its recent fee updates and will be implemented through a separate, coordinated process.

Until agencies publish procedures, consulates cannot issue clear payment instructions. Applicants do not yet know whether payment will be:

• Paid online in advance,
• Paid at a consulate cashier,
• Or collected via a third‑party platform.

The July 22 Federal Register notice confirmed cross‑agency work is underway but did not commit to a specific posting date for the collection plan. DOS and DHS are expected to release instructions in the weeks ahead, potentially covering:

• A dedicated payment portal
• Receipt and recordkeeping requirements
• A framework for verifying compliance if reimbursement ever launches

Impact on Applicants and Institutions

For travelers and employers planning trips after October 1, 2025, the conceptual steps are simple but operational details are murky.

• Applicants will apply for visas as usual and, if approved, will be asked to pay the $250 at issuance along with other required fees.
• Because the fee does not apply to denials, some applicants may delay payment until the final stage if consular systems allow it.
• If systems require earlier collection, agencies will need refund rules for refusals—rules that have not been shared.

Students (F-1/J-1) should:

• Budget for the extra payment,
• Discuss timing with campus advisors,
• Consider avoiding optional travel that would require new visa issuance abroad during the early months of rollout.

Employers should:

• Review travel and renewal policies,
• Decide whether to schedule consular renewals before the effective date,
• Or delay non‑urgent trips until collection procedures stabilize.

Short-Term Recommendations from Attorneys

1. Build the $250 per issuance into all 2025 budgets and offer letters.
2. Review whether maintaining status inside the United States can reduce consular trips.
3. Track agency updates daily—payment channels and proof‑of‑payment rules may change with little notice.

Human and Economic Stakes

The stakes are personal and practical:

• A graduate student from West Africa supporting family at home may have to weigh travel to a conference against an extra $250.
• A nurse recruited to a rural hospital may face the same charge for dependent children.
• A small manufacturer hiring an O-1 engineer could face multiple issuances and repeated fees over a project life cycle.

These costs influence real choices today, especially with the deadline set for October 1, 2025.

Where to Get Authoritative Updates

For authoritative updates, applicants should monitor the U.S. Department of State – Visa Services: https://travel.state.gov/.

Agencies have urged patience as they finalize operational details. VisaVerge.com reports stakeholders across higher education and business continue pressing for clear, simple instructions on payments, refunds, and record‑keeping.

Until procedures are published, the safest course is to:

• Plan for the $250 fee,
• Assume no refund,
• Keep documentation from every consular visit in case future guidance requires proof of compliance.