U.S. Visa Sticker Shock: New $250 ‘Integrity Fee’
Photo Credit: A file photo of The Venetian in Las Vegas. Wikimedia Commons / Dietmar Rabich
Skift Take
At a time when international arrivals to the U.S. are already slumping, these hefty additional fees will be one more reason not to visit. There are cheaper places to travel to with less hassle.
Many travelers applying for U.S. tourist visas should be prepared to pay at least an additional $250 for a new "Integrity Fee."
It's part of the recent budget law and hasn't been implemented yet, but the Department of Homeland Security is authorized to start charging this fiscal year. Starting in Fiscal Year 2026, which starts October 1, the Visa Integrity Fee will be adjusted annually for inflation.
It applies to travelers applying for non-immigrant visas, but people from the more than 40 Visa Waiver Program countries are not subject to the Visa Integrity Fee.
Travelers are eligible for reimbursement sometime after the visa expires as long as they don't overstay the visa expiration date by more than five day
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