The United States is reportedly introducing a new $250 "Visa Integrity Fee" applicable to almost all non-immigrant Visa categories. The move is expected to significantly increase the cost of travel and work for Indian nationals, and potentially impact technology companies reliant on H-1B visas. The new fee, part of the recently signed Omnibus Act (dubbed "Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill"), took effect on July 4th, with broad implications for tourists, students, and professionals.
The "Visa Integrity Fee" is said to be designed as a security deposit and is refundable under specific conditions, primarily if Visa holders depart the US within five days of their Visa expiration without seeking an extension or change in status. The fee is also subject to annual adjustments for inflation. Exemptions apply only to diplomatic visa categories (A and G).
How much will be the total US Visa fee including $250 Integrity Fee
For Indian nationals, the new levy is projected to raise the average tourist visa fee by 2.5 times, pushing it to approximately Rs 40,000 ($472) starting in 2026. This revised cost incorporates the new $250 Integrity Fee, a $24 I-94 fee, and a $13 ESTA fee, according to a report in Economic Times, quoting the US-based immigration services firm Fragomen.
The technology sector, both in India and the US, which heavily utilizes work visas to bring engineering talent to the United States, is likely to be particularly impacted by the increase in the US Visa fee. Experts advise aspiring applicants to factor in the increased working capital costs associated with the revised visa processing. He also recommended scheduling visa appointments before 2026 to avoid the new levy.
Explained: What does the US 'Visa Integrity Fee' mean for you
The newly introduced $250 US 'Visa Integrity Fee' is essentially a security deposit that most non-immigrant visa applicants will now have to pay in addition to their regular visa application fees. This includes individuals applying for tourist, business, student, work, and exchange visas. The stated purpose of this fee is to encourage compliance with visa terms and conditions. While the fee is refundable, it requires the visa holder to depart the US within five days of their visa expiring without seeking extensions or changes to their status.
For short-term visitors like tourists, this might be straightforward. However, for students or professionals on multi-year visas, their money could be held by the US government for a significant duration, impacting their financial planning. The US visa fee is also set to increase annually with inflation. This measure is expected to make US visas considerably more expensive, particularly for Indian nationals, potentially influencing decisions to travel, study, or work in the United States.
The "Visa Integrity Fee" is said to be designed as a security deposit and is refundable under specific conditions, primarily if Visa holders depart the US within five days of their Visa expiration without seeking an extension or change in status. The fee is also subject to annual adjustments for inflation. Exemptions apply only to diplomatic visa categories (A and G).
How much will be the total US Visa fee including $250 Integrity Fee
For Indian nationals, the new levy is projected to raise the average tourist visa fee by 2.5 times, pushing it to approximately Rs 40,000 ($472) starting in 2026. This revised cost incorporates the new $250 Integrity Fee, a $24 I-94 fee, and a $13 ESTA fee, according to a report in Economic Times, quoting the US-based immigration services firm Fragomen.
The technology sector, both in India and the US, which heavily utilizes work visas to bring engineering talent to the United States, is likely to be particularly impacted by the increase in the US Visa fee. Experts advise aspiring applicants to factor in the increased working capital costs associated with the revised visa processing. He also recommended scheduling visa appointments before 2026 to avoid the new levy.
Explained: What does the US 'Visa Integrity Fee' mean for you
The newly introduced $250 US 'Visa Integrity Fee' is essentially a security deposit that most non-immigrant visa applicants will now have to pay in addition to their regular visa application fees. This includes individuals applying for tourist, business, student, work, and exchange visas. The stated purpose of this fee is to encourage compliance with visa terms and conditions. While the fee is refundable, it requires the visa holder to depart the US within five days of their visa expiring without seeking extensions or changes to their status.
For short-term visitors like tourists, this might be straightforward. However, for students or professionals on multi-year visas, their money could be held by the US government for a significant duration, impacting their financial planning. The US visa fee is also set to increase annually with inflation. This measure is expected to make US visas considerably more expensive, particularly for Indian nationals, potentially influencing decisions to travel, study, or work in the United States.
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