A major change is coming for many travelers and visa applicants planning to visit the United States 🇺🇸 in 2025. The U.S. government has introduced a new Visa Integrity Fee of $250 for most non-immigrant visa applicants. This update explains what has changed, who is affected, when the new fee takes effect, what actions are required, and what these changes mean for people with pending or future visa applications. It also covers how the Visa Waiver Program, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, and the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 fit into these new rules.

Summary of What Changed

Starting in Fiscal Year 2025 (which begins October 1, 2024), most people who need a non-immigrant visa to enter the United States 🇺🇸 will have to pay a new Visa Integrity Fee of at least $250. This fee is in addition to the regular visa application fee (known as the MRV fee) and any other required payments, such as the SEVIS fee for students.

• Who is exempt? Citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), as well as citizens of Canada 🇨🇦, Bermuda, and certain Pacific island nations, do not have to pay this new fee for short visits.
• Who must pay? Citizens of all other countries who need a U.S. visa for tourism, business, study, or work will have to pay the fee when their visa is issued at a U.S. consulate or embassy.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department are still working out the details of how and when the fee will be collected. No official start date or refund process has been announced yet, but the law is already in effect. Travelers should be ready for the fee to be required on short notice.

Who Is Affected by the Visa Integrity Fee?

The new fee applies to almost all non-immigrant visa applicants who need a visa to enter the United States 🇺🇸. This includes:

• Tourists and business visitors (B-1/B-2 visas)
• Students (F-1, J-1, M-1 visas)
• Temporary workers (H-1B, L-1, O-1, and other work visas)
• Family members of visa holders (each person pays separately)

Key points:
– The fee is charged per person and per visa issuance. For example, a family of four will pay $1,000 in Visa Integrity Fees, plus the regular visa fees.
– The fee is only collected if the visa is approved and issued. If your visa application is denied, you do not pay the fee.
– If you change your status inside the United States (for example, from student to worker), you do not pay the fee until you next apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate abroad.

Who Is Exempt from the Fee?

Some travelers are not affected by the new fee because they do not need a visa to enter the United States 🇺🇸 for short visits. The main exemptions are:

• Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries (currently 41 countries)
• Canadian citizens (for most visits up to 180 days)
• Bermudian citizens (for most visits up to 180 days)
• Certain Pacific island nationals (such as Palau, under special agreements)
• Official and diplomatic visa holders (A, G, NATO visas, which are already fee-free)

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in 2025

The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of 41 countries to travel to the United States 🇺🇸 for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. Instead, they must apply for travel authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which costs $21. VWP travelers do not pay the new $250 Visa Integrity Fee.

The list of VWP countries includes most of Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Qatar, Taiwan, and Israel. As of May 2025, Romania was removed from the VWP for security reasons.

Special Cases and Exceptions

• Dual nationals: If you have passports from both a VWP country and a non-VWP country, you are only exempt if you use your VWP passport to travel. If you use your non-VWP passport, you must pay the fee.
• Canadian permanent residents: If you hold a passport from a non-exempt country (like India or Nigeria) and need a U.S. visa, you must pay the fee, even if you live in Canada 🇨🇦.
• Students and workers from VWP countries: If your stay in the United States 🇺🇸 will be longer than 90 days and you need a student or work visa, you are not exempt from the fee.

Effective Dates and Implementation Timeline

• Law signed: July 4, 2025 (Public Law 119-21, signed by President Trump)
• Fee authorized: Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025)
• Collection procedures: Still pending. DHS and the State Department must publish rules on how the fee will be collected.
• First collections: Not yet announced. Agencies suggest it could begin in late 2025, but no exact date is set.
• Refund system: Not yet available. The law says the fee is refundable if the traveler leaves the United States 🇺🇸 on time or keeps lawful status, but the government expects most people will not claim refunds for years.

Required Actions for Travelers and Applicants

If you are planning to apply for a U.S. non-immigrant visa in late 2024 or 2025, here’s what you need to do:

1. Check your eligibility: Find out if your country is part of the Visa Waiver Program. If so, you may be able to travel with just an ESTA and avoid the new fee. You can check the current list of VWP countries on the U.S. Department of State website.
2. Budget for extra costs: If you need a visa, plan for the $250 Visa Integrity Fee in addition to the regular MRV fee ($185 for most visas) and any other required payments (such as the SEVIS fee for students).
3. Watch for official updates: The fee could be required at any time once the government announces the start date. Check the websites of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will apply, and monitor DHS and State Department notices.
4. Prepare for payment: The fee will likely be collected electronically at the end of your visa interview, similar to other visa fees.
5. Keep records: If you plan to claim a refund after your visa expires, keep all receipts and records. However, most experts recommend treating the fee as non-refundable for now.

Implications for Pending and Future Applications

If you already have a visa appointment scheduled for late 2024 or 2025, you may be required to pay the new fee if your visa is issued after the start date. The government has not yet said whether people with pending applications will be “grandfathered in” or exempted if they applied before the fee was announced. It is safest to assume you will need to pay if your visa is issued after the fee goes into effect.

For students, workers, and families planning to apply for visas in the next year, the new fee will increase the total cost of coming to the United States 🇺🇸. For example:

• Tourist or business visitor (B-1/B-2): MRV fee $185 + Visa Integrity Fee $250 = $435 per person
• Student (F-1): MRV fee $185 + SEVIS fee $350 + Visa Integrity Fee $250 = $785 per person
• Worker (H-1B): MRV fee $205 + Visa Integrity Fee $250 = $455 per person

How the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA Work

The Visa Waiver Program is a special arrangement that lets citizens of certain countries visit the United States 🇺🇸 for up to 90 days without a visa. Instead, they must get approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before traveling. ESTA is an online system run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that checks if you are eligible to travel under the VWP.

• ESTA cost: $21 per person
• Validity: Usually valid for two years or until your passport expires
• Requirement: Must be approved before boarding a U.S.-bound flight or ship

If you are not eligible for the VWP (for example, if you have visited certain countries like Iran, Iraq, or Cuba since specific dates), you must apply for a regular visa and pay all required fees, including the new Visa Integrity Fee. The Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 made these rules stricter to improve security.

Special Rules Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015

This law says that even if you are from a VWP country, you cannot use the VWP if:

• You have traveled to or been in North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen since March 1, 2011 (unless you were there for official government or military work for your VWP country)
• You have traveled to or been in Cuba since January 12, 2021 (with similar exceptions)
• You are also a citizen of Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria

If you fall into any of these groups, you must apply for a regular visa and pay all fees, including the new Visa Integrity Fee.

Practical Implications for Different Groups

Tourists and Families
– The new fee makes travel to the United States 🇺🇸 more expensive, especially for families from countries not in the VWP. A family of four from India, for example, will pay $1,000 in Visa Integrity Fees plus $740 in MRV fees.

Students
– International students from non-VWP countries will face higher upfront costs. Before even booking a flight, a student must pay $185 for the MRV fee, $350 for the SEVIS fee, and $250 for the Visa Integrity Fee—a total of $785.

Employers
– Companies hiring workers from abroad (such as H-1B or L-1 visa holders) must decide whether to pay the new fee for their employees or require workers to pay it themselves. For families, the costs can add up quickly.

U.S. Economy and Diplomacy
– Travel experts warn that the new fee could reduce the number of visitors from many countries, especially those where the cost is a bigger burden. This could hurt tourism, business, and public diplomacy, especially with big events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics coming up.

What Should You Do Next?

• Check your country’s status: Are you from a Visa Waiver Program country? If so, you can avoid the new fee for short visits by using ESTA.
• Plan for higher costs: If you need a visa, add the $250 Visa Integrity Fee to your travel budget.
• Stay informed: Watch for updates from the U.S. government about when the fee will start and how to pay it.
• Keep all receipts: If a refund system is set up in the future, you will need proof of payment.

Where to Find Official Information

For the latest updates on the Visa Waiver Program, ESTA, and visa fees, visit the official U.S. Department of State Visa Waiver Program page. For details on ESTA, see the CBP ESTA page.

Conclusion

The new Visa Integrity Fee is a major change for most non-immigrant visa applicants to the United States 🇺🇸. Unless you are from a Visa Waiver Program country, Canada 🇨🇦, or Bermuda, you should expect to pay an extra $250 per person when your next U.S. visa is issued. Because the refund system is not yet in place and the start date is uncertain, it is best to treat the fee as non-refundable and plan for it in your travel or study budget. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, staying alert for official government updates is the best way to avoid surprises and make sure your travel plans go smoothly.

Learn Today

Visa Integrity Fee → A new $250 fee charged to most non-immigrant visa applicants when the visa is issued.
Visa Waiver Program → A program allowing citizens of certain countries to travel to the U.S. without a visa for up to 90 days.
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) → An online system that authorizes travel under the Visa Waiver Program, costing $21 per person.
MRV Fee → The Machine Readable Visa fee required for processing most U.S. non-immigrant visa applications.
SEVIS Fee → A fee paid by international students and exchange visitors to support the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

This Article in a Nutshell

The U.S. introduces a $250 Visa Integrity Fee for most non-immigrant visas starting October 2024. Visa Waiver Program travelers remain exempt. This fee increases visa costs, impacts families and students, and may reduce visitor numbers amid upcoming major events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
— By VisaVerge.com