# US Visa Total Cost Calculator 2026 > Free 2026 US visa cost calculator. Add the $250 Visa Integrity Fee to your MRV application fee, I-94, SEVIS, and reciprocity fees to see the true per-person and total cost for your visa type. Since October 2025, most US nonimmigrant visa applications carry a $250 Visa Integrity Fee on top of the usual application fee. Pick your visa type and travelers to see the full per-person stack: application fee, integrity fee, I-94, SEVIS, and reciprocity. *Interactive tool: enter your values at https://toollantern.win/us-visa-total-cost-calculator-2026/ and results update instantly in your browser.* ## What changed The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, created a **$250 Visa Integrity Fee** charged on most nonimmigrant visa applications, effective October 1, 2025. It is indexed to inflation starting in 2026. The fee sits on top of every existing charge, and the government has been slow to finalize collection procedures, so treat it as payable and plan accordingly. ## The fee stack - **Application (MRV) fee:** $185 for most visas (B-1/B-2, F, M, J); $205 for petition-based visas (H, L, O, P, Q, R). - **Visa Integrity Fee:** $250 per person, per application, for almost all nonimmigrant visas. - **I-94 fee:** $24 per person, raised from $6; applies to travelers arriving by land. - **SEVIS fee:** $350 for F and M students, $220 for J exchange visitors, paid once per program. - **Reciprocity/issuance fee:** varies by nationality and visa class; check the State Department reciprocity schedule for your country. ## Who pays and who is exempt The integrity fee applies to visitors, students, exchange visitors, and temporary workers applying on nonimmigrant visas. Exempt: citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries (who travel on ESTA instead), most Canadian and Bermudian citizens entering without a visa, and holders of diplomatic A and G visas. ## Worked examples A family of four visiting on B-1/B-2 visas and arriving by land: - Per person: $185 (MRV) + $250 (integrity) + $24 (I-94) = **$459**. - Family total: **$1,836**, before any reciprocity fee. One F-1 student flying in: - $185 (MRV) + $250 (integrity) + $350 (SEVIS) = **$785** (no I-94 fee by air). ## Refunds: possible, but do not count on one The law allows a refund for visa holders who depart within five days of their I-94 expiring, never work without authorization, and fully comply with their visa terms. But no refund process, timeline, or responsible agency has been established, and refunds are only considered after the visa expires. For budgeting, treat the fee as non-refundable. ## Short-validity visas multiply the cost The integrity fee is charged per application, not per year. Some nationalities now receive short, single-entry visas (for example, three-month single-entry visas for several African nationalities since mid-2025), so frequent travelers pay the $250 fee again with nearly every trip. Check your country's reciprocity schedule before planning travel. ## Comparing immigration routes If you are weighing the US against other destinations, see [how visa points systems work](/how-visa-points-systems-work/) in Canada, Australia, and the UK, or [estimate your Canada CRS score](/canada-crs-calculator/). Applying for a green card or US citizenship instead? [Estimate your USCIS filing fees for 2026](/uscis-fee-calculator-2026/). This calculator is an estimate, not legal advice. Consular fees change and collection procedures are still being finalized; verify the current fees with your local US consulate or embassy before applying. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the Visa Integrity Fee? A $250 per-person surcharge added to most US nonimmigrant visa applications under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective October 1, 2025. It is charged in addition to the standard visa application (MRV) fee and is indexed to inflation starting in 2026. ### Who has to pay it? Almost everyone applying for a US nonimmigrant visa: tourists (B-1/B-2), students (F, M), exchange visitors (J), and temporary workers (H-1B, L-1, O-1, and others). ### Who is exempt? Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries traveling on ESTA, most Canadian and Bermudian citizens entering without a visa, and holders of diplomatic A and G visas. ### When did the fee start? October 1, 2025, the start of the US government's fiscal year. It stays at $250 through September 30, 2026, and is indexed to inflation after that. ### Is the fee refundable? In theory, yes, for visa holders who leave within five days of their I-94 expiring, never work without authorization, and fully comply with their visa terms. In practice, no refund process exists yet, so treat it as non-refundable when budgeting. ### Does it apply to ESTA travelers? No. Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries use ESTA instead of a visa and do not pay the integrity fee. The OBBBA did separately adjust the ESTA fee, so check the current ESTA cost. ### What about the I-94 fee increase? The I-94 arrival/departure record fee rose from $6 to $24 under the same law. It applies to travelers arriving by land; tick the I-94 box in the calculator if that is you. ### Do students pay SEVIS on top of everything? Yes. F and M students pay a $350 SEVIS fee and J exchange visitors pay $220, per program, in addition to the MRV application fee and the $250 integrity fee. ### What is the reciprocity fee? An issuance fee some nationalities pay based on how their country treats US applicants, set by the State Department's reciprocity schedule. It varies by country and visa class; enter your amount per person, or 0 if none applies. ### Is this calculator legal advice? No. It is an estimate based on published fee schedules. Fees change and collection procedures are still being finalized; verify current fees with your local US consulate or embassy. --- Interactive version: https://toollantern.win/us-visa-total-cost-calculator-2026/