The US has offered a brand unique $250 Visa Integrity Fee that can exclaim to most non-immigrant visa categories origin in fiscal year 2025.
The unique surcharge will likely be charged apart from to present visa utility charges, vastly elevating the entire label for many applicants in the hunt for to discuss with, opinion, or work in the united states.
Based on TravelBiz, the price will duvet differ of visa categories, including B-1/B-2 for alternate and tourism, F and M for college students, H-1B for skilled workers, and J for replace guests.
Finest diplomatic and international organization visa holders under categories A and G will likely be exempt from the extra fee.
With the introduction of the price, the label of a B-1/B-2 visa, which currently stands at $185 (about ₦292,000 or ₹15,855), will now rise to approximately $435 (around ₦686,000 or ₹37,300).
The authorities says the Visa Integrity Fee is designed as a compliance instrument, geared toward encouraging correct behavior and discouraging visa overstays. It is supposed to wait on as an incentive for visa holders to stick strictly to the terms of their preserve.
Refunds could well well well also be issued to applicants who completely follow visa prerequisites, comparable to departing the U.S. inside of 5 days after the expiration of their licensed preserve. Nevertheless, refunds are usually now not computerized and require documented proof of compliance. In most conditions, exemptions, reductions, or waivers could well well now not be granted.
The cost is anticipated to rise yearly from 2026, with adjustments tied to inflation and overseen by the Division of Hometown Safety. While the protection is framed as a measure to reinforce immigration compliance, it has sparked concerns amongst frequent vacationers, international college students, and employers who depend on foreign expertise–in particular in international locations with excessive query for U.S. visas.
As implementation approaches, doable guests are being suggested to ingredient in the increased charges when planning scoot, opinion, or work-associated actions in the united states. The protection signals a broader shift in U.S. immigration and visa enforcement, emphasizing stricter accountability for non-immigrant visa holders.
Below the guidelines, the Visa Integrity Fee is classified as a routine surcharge. Refund eligibility is dependent on evidence of elephantine compliance, comparable to timely departure or correct adjustment of immigration station. Refunds can easiest be processed after the visa expires, and if an applicant doesn’t meet the standards, the price will likely be retained and transferred to the U.S. Treasury’s typical fund.
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