The so-called Visa Integrity Fee is a new charge created in the United States under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted on July 4, 2025. It is an additional $250 fee that must be paid by applicants for a nonimmigrant visa, meaning the most common categories such as tourism (B-1/B-2), study (F, M), cultural exchange (J), or temporary work (H-1B, L, O, P, R). Diplomats (A and G categories), citizens of countries eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (including much of Europe, Japan, and Australia), and, in certain cases, Canadians, are exempt.

The measure is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2025, coinciding with the start of the new U.S. fiscal year. From that date, the fee must be paid at the time the visa is issued, not when the application is submitted. If the visa is denied, the applicant does not have to pay it. In addition, beginning in 2026, the amount will be adjusted annually for inflation.

The new requirement comes just months before the United States hosts thousands of tourists expected to attend major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and the 2026 Summer Olympics. Those visitors who have not yet applied for their visas will now face this additional cost. According to a report by the Commission for Safe and Uninterrupted Travel, between the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Summer and Paralympic Games, the country could welcome up to 40 million international visitors. The World Cup alone could account for 6 million of these trips. However, not all countries require visas to enter the United States, and many travelers have already completed the process in advance.

A key feature of the new fee is that it is conceived as a kind of refundable deposit. Applicants may recover the money, but only if they strictly comply with all the conditions of their visa: not overstaying the authorized period, not working without permission, leaving the United States on time, or legally changing their status. If these requirements are met, a refund can be requested; however, experts warn that in practice very few people will be able to recover the money, either because of the strict conditions or the administrative complexity.

The purpose of the measure is to reinforce immigration compliance and reduce so-called overstays (when visitors remain in the country beyond the permitted period). Nevertheless, the decision has sparked criticism. Representatives of the tourism industry argue that it could discourage travel to the United States, especially at a time when international arrivals remain below pre-pandemic levels. The economic impact could also be significant for certain groups: for example, a family of four applying for a B-2 tourist visa would face an additional $1,000 expense, not including the standard application fees. Congress, on the other hand, projects that the measure will generate billions of dollars in revenue over the next decade.

In summary, the Visa Integrity Fee represents a major change in U.S. visa policy: a mandatory $250 payment that will only be refunded if the visitor fully complies with immigration rules. It will take effect in October 2025 and, starting the following year, will increase annually in line with inflation. Officially, its aim is to ensure proper use of visas, but many view it as a measure that makes traveling legally to the United States more costly and complicated.