Quick answer: The US visa integrity fee is a $250 charge added by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed on July 4, 2025. It applies to most nonimmigrant visas issued on or after October 1, 2025, including B1/B2 visitor, F-1 student, J-1, H-1B and L-1 visas. You pay it when the visa is issued at a US embassy or consulate, not with your DS-160 or to USCIS. It’s adjusted for inflation each year, and you may be able to get it back later if you follow all the terms of your visa. Collection has been uneven, so check with your embassy.
This guide explains who pays, who doesn’t, how the refund is supposed to work and how the fee fits with the other 2025–2026 US travel fees. Last reviewed October 2026.
Visa integrity fee at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Amount | $250 base amount, adjusted each year for inflation |
| Legal basis | One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) |
| Applies to | Nonimmigrant visas issued on or after October 1, 2025 |
| When paid | At visa issuance, on top of the visa application fee |
| Who pays | Each applicant, including children and dependents |
| Refundable? | Possibly, after your stay, if you complied with your visa terms |
Who has to pay it
- Visitors on B-1, B-2 or B1/B2 visas
- Students and exchange visitors on F, M and J visas
- Workers on H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-3, TN and similar visas, plus dependents (H-4, L-2, F-2 and so on)
- Anyone getting a new visa stamp abroad, including renewals
Who doesn’t pay it
- Visa Waiver Program travelers using ESTA, since no visa is issued. See ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program.
- Immigrant visa and green card applicants, including adjustment of status.
- People changing or extending status inside the US through USCIS without getting a new visa abroad.
- Diplomatic and official visa holders may be exempt; check with the embassy.
Is it an H-1B fee?
Not exactly. It isn’t part of the H-1B petition that employers file with USCIS. It’s charged to the worker when the H-1B visa is stamped at a consulate abroad. Who covers it is up to the employer’s policy. It is separate from the $100,000 H-1B fee, which courts have blocked.
How the refund is supposed to work
The law allows the fee to be reimbursed after your visa expires if you:
- complied with all your visa conditions, including not working without authorization, and
- left the US within five days after your authorized stay ended, or got a lawful extension, change of status or green card while the visa was valid.
Refunds aren’t automatic, and DHS hadn’t published a full claims process at the time of writing. Keep your I-94 records, boarding passes and status documents in case you need to prove compliance.
Is it being collected yet?
The fee applies to visas issued from October 1, 2025, but embassies have started collecting it at different times as payment systems came online. Check your embassy’s website or appointment instructions to see whether you’ll be asked to pay at issuance.
What a US visa costs in 2026
| Visa | Application fee | Plus at issuance |
|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 visitor | $185 | $250 integrity fee (+ reciprocity fee for some nationalities) |
| F-1 / J-1 student or exchange | $185 (+ $350 SEVIS fee for F-1) | $250 integrity fee |
| H-1B, L-1, O-1 | $205 | $250 integrity fee |
The same 2025 law also raised other entry fees, including the ESTA fee (now $40) and the I-94 fee. Visa application fees are on the State Department fee page.
FAQ
Do children pay the visa integrity fee?
Yes. It’s charged for each visa issued, so every family member getting a visa pays it.
Do I pay it if my visa is refused?
No. It’s paid only when a visa is issued. The application fee is not refunded if you’re refused.
Will the fee go up?
Yes, it’s indexed to inflation, so the amount can rise each fiscal year. Check the current figure with your embassy.
Do I pay it if I’m already in the US on F-1 and switch to H-1B?
Not for the change of status itself. You’ll pay it the next time a new visa is issued to you abroad.
Official sources to check before you apply or travel
Visa rules, fees, processing times and entry requirements change often. Always confirm the current requirements on the official government website, or with the embassy or consulate, before you apply, pay or travel. One Visa Center is an independent information site, not a law firm or government agency, and this article is not legal advice. Read how we research, fact-check and use AI tools in our Editorial Policy.
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