Rising U.S. Visa Fees Push International Students Toward Delays

(UNITED STATES) International students heading to the United States 🇺🇸 are bracing for a new layer of costs as a $250 Visa Integrity Fee takes effect for most nonimmigrant visas under the BBB (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), passed in July 2025. The fee applies to F-1, M-1, and J-1 student categories and comes on top of existing charges such as the SEVIS I-901 fee (e.g., $350 for F-1/M-1) and the standard visa application processing fee (often $185). In countries like India, total upfront costs for a U.S. student visa can now climb to around ₹40,000 (≈ USD 480) or more, depending on local surcharges and exchange rates.

Universities, students, and policy advocates warn the new charge could reshape decisions about whether to enroll in the U.S. this fall or consider alternatives.

Meera Singh, admitted to a graduate program, learned about the new fee in an email from her campus international office. She had already budgeted her stipend to the dollar—rent, books, and flights—only to learn she needed to find another $250. The news left her weighing a deferral.

Students across multiple regions say the decision to study in the U.S. now comes with greater financial risk due to stacking fees and potential rule changes, including limits on how long they can stay on a single visa.

Policy Changes Overview

Under the BBB (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), the Visa Integrity Fee is non-refundable and applies to nearly all nonimmigrant categories, including key student pathways.

That means the cost stack for first-time and returning students now includes:

1. Visa Integrity Fee: $250
2. SEVIS I-901 fee — e.g., $350 for F-1/M-1 — paid to the Department of Homeland Security (SEVIS I-901)
3. Nonimmigrant visa processing fee: often $185 — paid to the Department of State

The State Department maintains a public page with official fee information and updates for visa applicants at travel.state.gov.

Beyond fees, policy ideas under discussion have added uncertainty:

• A major proposal would end the long-standing “duration of status” (D/S) system for F and J visas, replacing it with fixed stay limits (e.g., up to four years). If adopted, that change would force mid-course renewals with added cost and stress.
• The fee for post-completion work authorization could rise. The Form I-765 application for Optional Practical Training (OPT) faces a proposed increase of 20%, to $490. Details are on the USCIS site: Form I-765.

The combined impact—higher upfront costs, possible time limits on student status, and rising OPT fees—has many prospective and current students adjusting plans in real time. International offices say they are fielding urgent questions daily about whether to pay now, wait for clarity, or consider a different country entirely.

Important: Students and families should monitor official pages for fee and policy updates and factor potential changes into their decision timelines.

Impact on Applicants

Students are responding in several ways:

• Delaying applications and travel
  • Some push visa appointments to the last allowed date, hoping for clearer guidance.
  • Others defer their program start by a term or a year.
  • As one engineering master’s student said, “I budgeted every dollar of my stipend for rent, books, and flights. Adding $250 at the last moment almost pushed me to defer.”
• Seeking small grants and emergency aid
  • International offices are exploring short-term loans, emergency funds, and pilot “visa-relief funds” for the most affected students.
• Switching destinations
  • Applicants compare the U.S. with Canada 🇨🇦, Australia, Germany, and the U.K., where visa costs and processing certainty may be more favorable.
  • “Even if the U.S. is top in ranking, I would choose Canada now if the visa cost is unpredictable,” said Amit Kumar, a prospective master’s student.
• Working remotely first
  • Some students delay U.S. entry to save on housing and other expenses while completing internships or research remotely.
• Cutting costs
  • Students trim travel and living expenses—cheaper flights, shared housing, borrowed textbooks, and tighter budgets—while staying within visa employment rules.

Experts highlight the uneven burden. “This is a regressive change. Students from low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected. The margin between being able to take your seat in class or withdrawing becomes razor thin,” said Dr. Zoe Nakamura, Director of International Student Support at a U.S. university.

Immigration policy analyst Mark Silva added: “Fees are an easy lever for policymakers to raise revenue or disincentivize immigration—but they shift the burden onto individual students, not institutions or government. And that risks reducing access and diversity in U.S. higher education.”

Administrators are also recalibrating budgets, reworking pre-arrival cost estimates, and urging Washington to consider waivers or phased timelines for the Visa Integrity Fee. Advisors warn that last-minute fees can derail housing plans, delay visa interview bookings, and force students to miss orientation or even the start of classes.

The ripple effects extend beyond campuses. International students contribute billions in tuition and local spending every year, supporting academic programs and stabilizing local budgets. They also strengthen research capacity and global networks. Some institutions report early signs of reduced interest as applicants pivot to Canada or Europe, raising worries about a gradual erosion of the United States’ position as a global education hub.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, fee shocks and rule uncertainty can drive students to pick destinations with clearer costs and more predictable policies.

On-the-Ground Adjustments and Practical Steps

Students and schools are trying to cushion the blow and plan ahead.

Practical actions students are taking:

• Budget earlier and build buffers
  • Set aside extra funds for fees and potential rule changes.
  • Watch exchange-rate swings that can push costs higher.
• Ask for help
  • Contact international offices about emergency grants, short-term loans, or donor-funded relief for the $250 fee.
  • Early outreach helps schools triage the greatest needs.
• Apply sooner when possible
  • File early where allowed to lock in current processes and monitor official channels for changes tied to the BBB (One Big Beautiful Bill Act).
• Prepare a “backup country” plan
  • Apply to at least one alternative country in parallel in case visa timing, cost, or new rules make a U.S. start less realistic.

Institutional responses include:

• Setting up small relief funds or loans to bridge unexpected costs
• Publishing clearer pre-arrival cost guides that list Visa Integrity Fee, SEVIS I-901, and travel expenses
• Coordinating with national associations to request phased rollouts or targeted fee waivers

Policymaker options suggested by advocates:

• Means-tested waivers for students from countries with lower GDP per capita
• Aligning implementations with academic calendars
• Formal consultation with universities and international student groups before rolling out new fees or status limits

The stress is not only financial. For students like Meera, the uncertainty is costly—time lost to rescheduling visa interviews, rebooking flights, and weighing whether to secure housing sight unseen. Decisions become less about academic fit and more about risk tolerance.

Students increasingly ask:
– Will the rules change mid-degree?
– Will OPT be priced out of reach?
– Will another fee arrive just as they finalize travel plans?

Advocates argue the Visa Integrity Fee may deter top candidates who have other options. Canada, Germany, Australia, and the U.K. are promoting clear timelines and defined work pathways for graduates. Even modest changes to U.S. costs can tilt the scales when families decide where to invest scarce savings.

OPT and Form I-765 Planning

OPT remains a key bridge from school to work, but rising costs could change the calculus:

• Advisors recommend becoming familiar with the Form I-765 process early and setting aside funds in case higher fees take effect during an application window. See Form I-765.
• A proposed 20% increase could raise the filing fee for OPT to $490, impacting students who rely on OPT to gain experience and offset education costs.
• Students without immediate employer sponsorship are particularly vulnerable to higher OPT fees.

What Students Should Do Now

• Keep close contact with your designated school official (DSO).
• Check State Department fee updates regularly at travel.state.gov.
• Complete required payments such as SEVIS I-901 well before visa interviews (SEVIS I-901).
• Monitor USCIS guidance for any Form I-765 changes: Form I-765.
• Consider applying to one or two backup countries to preserve options.

Example: Meera’s Trade-offs

Meera decided to pay the extra $250 and proceed, but with compromises:

• Booked a cheaper flight with a long layover
• Chose a shared apartment farther from campus
• Tightened her grocery budget

She hopes the investment pays off. The larger question is whether the U.S. will remain the default first choice for the next wave of global talent—or whether rising costs and policy shifts will push ambitious students elsewhere.

For practical, plain-language updates on student visa costs and process tips, VisaVerge.com tracks changes that matter to applicants and families weighing their options.