Visa Integrity Fee: What the $250 Charge Means
The visa integrity fee is a new charge on most U.S visas. Here's which visas it covers, why it isn't being collected yet, and whether it's refundable.
The U.S. visa integrity fee is a new $250 charge added on top of the normal cost of a visa. It was created by the 2025 federal budget law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and applies when a consulate issues almost any nonimmigrant visa.
The part that matters most for planning is the timing: as of June 2026 the fee is law but isn't being collected yet, because the process for charging and refunding it hasn't been finalized.
Key takeaways
- The visa integrity fee is a new $250 charge added on top of the normal visa fees, paid by the applicant when a visa is issued.
- As of June 2026 it's law but isn't being collected yet. It isn't on the State Department's fee schedule, and consulates aren't charging it at interviews.
- It applies to nearly every nonimmigrant visa stamped at a U.S. consulate, including the E-3 and the H-1B. Tourists traveling on an ESTA don't pay it.
- It's charged per person, so each family member on their own visa owes the full $250 as well.
- A refund is possible but not guaranteed, and there's no way to claim it yet, so plan as if the fee is non-refundable.
What the visa integrity fee is and why it exists
The visa integrity fee is a flat $250 charge that sits on top of the visa application fee you already pay. It's one of several new U.S. immigration fees the 2025 budget law introduced, and it doesn't replace any existing fee or qualify for a waiver. The applicant pays it, and the Department of Homeland Security, rather than the State Department, is the agency responsible for collecting it.
The $250 figure is a minimum set in 2025. From 2026 onward it can rise each year with inflation, though it remains $250 in practice for now. The charge is tied to the moment a consular officer issues your visa, not to when you apply and not to when you arrive at the border.
How much the fee costs, and who pays
The integrity fee is a flat $250 on top of whatever your visa already costs, and it's charged per person, so every family member who gets their own visa owes it too. The application fee underneath it depends on the category, from $185 for most visitor and student visas to $205 for petition-based work visas.
If you're moving on an E-3 visa, the application fee is higher at $315, so once the integrity fee is live you're looking at roughly $565 before any reciprocity charge, plus the same $250 again for each dependent.
| Fee | Amount (as of June 2026) | Who pays | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa integrity fee | $250 minimum | The applicant, per person | At visa issuance, once collection begins |
| Visa application fee, most nonimmigrant visas | $185 to $205 | The applicant | Before the consular interview |
| Visa application fee, E-3 | $315 | The applicant | Before the consular interview |
Source: State Department's visa fee schedule
A separate charge for the I-94 arrival record applies only to people entering at a land border crossing, so if you're flying into the U.S., you don't pay it. You can also pull your I-94 record for free from CBP.
Which visas the fee applies to, and who's exempt
The fee covers nearly every nonimmigrant visa category, because the trigger is the visa being issued rather than the type of visa. Work visas like the E-3, H-1B, L-1, and O-1 are all subject to the fee, as are student and exchange visas like the F-1 and J-1, and visitor visas.
The main exemption is for people who never receive a visa stamp. Travelers entering on an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program aren't charged, so Australians visiting as tourists don't pay it. Australians applying for an E-3 stamp do, because the visa is issued at a consulate.
When the visa integrity fee starts, and why it hasn't yet
The fee is law, but as of June 2026 it isn't being collected. It hasn't appeared on the State Department's published fee schedule, and applicants aren't being charged for it at consular interviews. Collecting it requires coordination between the State Department and Homeland Security, and that process isn't in place yet.
Because the start date isn't fixed, the safest approach is to confirm the current fees with your specific consulate before your appointment, since the rollout may not happen everywhere at once.
Whether the fee is refundable, and how refunds work
The visa integrity fee is technically refundable, but the refund is discretionary and conditional, so it's safest to assume you won't recover it. To even qualify, you have to comply with every condition of your visa, including no unauthorized work, and then either leave the U.S. within five days of your visa expiring or get an approved extension or green card.
Even if you meet all of that, the refund isn't automatic, and no reimbursement process has been published yet. For planning purposes, budget for the $250 as a cost you won't recover.
What it means for your job search, and what to ask a sponsor
The integrity fee is worth raising before you sign. If an offer requires you to get your visa stamped at a consulate, ask the employer whether they'll cover the fee for you and for each dependent, since the family total adds up quickly at $250 per person. How a sponsor answers is also a useful signal for how they handle relocation costs more broadly.
Nothing in the law forces an employer to reimburse the fee, so the time to get coverage in writing is during the offer stage, before you've accepted.
And if you're still comparing offers, it helps to focus on employers who sponsor work visas regularly. Migrate Mate can help with that part of the search, listing U.S. employers with a verified history of sponsoring work visas so you can focus on companies that already know the process.
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Find your next roleFrequently asked questions
When does the visa integrity fee start?
As of June 2026 it hasn't started yet. The fee is law but isn't on the State Department's published fee schedule and isn't being charged at consular interviews. Collection will begin once the agencies finish setting it up, so confirm with your consulate before your appointment.
Who pays the visa integrity fee?
The visa applicant pays it, not the employer. It's charged per person, so every family member on their own visa owes the full amount too. An employer can agree to reimburse it, but nothing in the law requires them to.
Does the refund apply if my visa expires and I overstay by one day?
No. The refund only applies if you leave within five days of your visa expiring or get an approved extension or green card. A single day of overstay beyond that window, without an extension, ends your eligibility. The refund is also discretionary and has no application process yet, so treat the fee as non-refundable.
Does the visa integrity fee apply to H-1B visas?
Yes. The fee applies to nearly every nonimmigrant visa stamped at a U.S. consulate, including the H-1B, E-3, L-1, O-1, F-1, and J-1. It's triggered by the visa being issued, not by the category. Filing a change of status from inside the US is the main way to delay it.
Do ESTA travelers owe the integrity fee?
No. Travelers entering on an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program don't get a visa stamp, so the fee doesn't apply. Australians visiting as tourists use ESTA and are exempt. The fee only applies to people who are issued an actual visa, such as an E-3 or H-1B.
How do I pay the visa integrity fee?
There's no payment process yet, because collection hasn't started. Once it does, it's expected to be collected when your visa is issued, on top of the application fee you already pay. Watch the State Department fee schedule and your consulate's instructions for how and when it will be charged.
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