As of October 1, 2025, amendments increasing the cost of U.S. nonimmigrant visas have come into effect. Applicants must now pay a new mandatory surcharge known as the Visa Integrity Fee, reports RBC.
The measure is part of the “Big Beautiful Bill”, a tax and spending law signed by President Donald Trump in July 2025. For the current fiscal year (October 2025 – October 2026), the fee has been set at a minimum of $250, with the Department of Homeland Security authorized to raise the amount at its discretion.
The new requirement affects most nonimmigrant visa applicants — including tourists, business travelers, foreign students, and other short-term visitors. The surcharge is added to the existing $185 consular fee, bringing the minimum base cost of a U.S. visa to $435, nearly triple the previous rate.
Nonimmigrant visas include more than a dozen categories, among them:
B-2 tourist visas
B-1 business visas
J visas for educational exchanges
I visas for journalists
According to the legislation, the fee is charged only upon issuance of a visa. Applicants whose requests are denied will not be required to pay. The law also allows for the Visa Integrity Fee to be partially or fully refunded if travelers comply with U.S. visa rules and laws. However, the details — including eligibility for refunds — will be determined by regulations issued by the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. State Department.
The policy follows updated application rules introduced in September 2025, which require applicants to submit documents only in the country of their citizenship or permanent residence. Nationals of countries where the U.S. has no visa-issuing embassies or consulates may apply in designated cities. For example:
Russian citizens may apply in Astana or Warsaw
Belarusian citizens in Vilnius or Warsaw
Ukrainian citizens in Krakow or Warsaw
