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 in Canada, Australia, and the UK, or estimate your Canada CRS score. Applying for a green card or US citizenship instead? Estimate your USCIS filing fees for 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.