Beginning January 1, 2026, the majority of non-immigrant visa applicants seeking entry into the United States will encounter a substantial increase in fees due to the implementation of a new $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” as mandated by legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump. This initiative, which is part of the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” aims to enhance adherence to U.S. immigration regulations and will broadly affect various temporary visa categories, including tourist and business visas (B-1/B-2), student visas (F and M), work visas (such as H-1B), and exchange visitor visas (J). However, diplomatic and government officials holding A and G visa types will be exempt from this fee. The fee will be collected by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the time of visa issuance and will be in addition to the current visa application fees. Starting in 2026, this fee will also be adjusted for inflation, increasing each year in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In addition to the Visa Integrity Fee, travelers will now be subject to other non-waivable charges: a $24 fee for the I-94 arrival/departure record, a $13 Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee for citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries, and a $30 Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) fee for specific Chinese nationals holding 10-year B-1/B-2 visas, as reported by the immigration services firm Fragomen. For applicants from India, these modifications signify a considerable escalation in expenses. A standard B-1/B-2 visa, which currently costs $185 (approximately ₹15,855), will rise to about $472 (around ₹40,456) once all the new fees are factored in — more than double the existing cost. While the administration presents this as a refundable deposit aimed at reducing visa overstays, critics caution that this action may dissuade genuine travelers, students, and professionals, potentially jeopardizing tourism, educational exchanges, and international relations.
