US Hikes Visa Fees: Student, Tourist, and H-1B Applicants to Pay $250 Security Deposit

US Hikes Visa Fees: Another twist in the immigration policy has seen the US take another move by introducing a $250 Visa Integrity Fee under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4. The fee to be paid is annually and it is like a security deposit, and this might be refunded given that the applicants meet some requirements. It has been perceived as an act by the Trump government to ensure that the applicants comply with the US immigration policy.

On July 4, President Trump signed the OBBB and turned it into an Act. This rule of the new visa is component of the omnibus Act.

Under the new rule (which becomes effective in 2026), this required fee would be required for any alien with an application of a non-immigrant visa (such as tourist/business (B-1/B-2), student (F/M) visas, work (H-1B) and exchange (J) visas, except those under diplomatic visa status (A and G categories).

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This surcharge, as provided by the law, will be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the issuance of the visa which is over and above what is currently paid by the visa applicant in processing a visa.

President Donald Trump has increased action to enforce the action against illegal immigration with the new rules.

Other travel related fees are also introduced under the bill such as a 24 dollar I-94 fee, a 13 dollar Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) fee to Visa waiver programme travellers and a 30 dollar Electronic Visa Update System ( EVUS) fee to certain nationalities of the Chinese with 10-year B-1/B-2 visas which are all non-waivable according to a report by Fragomen who specialise in immigration services based in the US.

Today the cost of getting a US tourist/business visa (B-1/B-2) to Indians is approximately 185 dollars or 15,855 rupees. Under the new surcharges, that contain the Integrity Fee that is equal to $250 and the fees of $24 I-94 and the fee of $13 ESTA, the tourist visa would be approximately priced at about $472 (Rs 40,456) – nearly two-and-a-half times the original cost.

The government can raise this fee down the line with subsequent regulations, and after entering 2026, increasing due to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) every year, applicants will be faced with a regularly recurring, inflation-linked fee.

This fee purports to be like a security deposit maybe to promote adherence to the US immigration laws.

Although the fee could prevent cases of visa overstays, it is also likely that it will deter lawful visitors and even curtail cultural exchanges especially among applicants of developing countries.

WHAT TO DO TO RECLAIM US VISA INTEGRITY FEE?

The fee can be refunded though under very strict conditions.

Visa holders can apply to have their money back in case they leave the US within five days of their visa being expired without having applied for a visa extension or status change or in case they manage to transition to permanent residence before the date when the I-94 status is due to expire.

I-94 refers to Arrival/ Departure Record issued to non- immigrants into the US by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

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The refund procedure however is not automatic and demands heavy documentation, i.e. records of departure or documents of change in status.

Failure to pay those will see the fee landing in the general fund at the US Treasury.

Additional instructions by the US State Department are expected to set the record straight in terms of refunds.

Although the fee can help decrease visa overstays, it could push away lawful visitors and possibly restrict cultures exchanges especially among the developing country applicants.

The Visa Integrity Fee is a huge entry cost to the tourists and students of the developing countries and this can require very stringent planning to counter the rise in expenses.

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