Map Shows Which Countries Will Have to Pay Visa Integrity Fee to Enter US

A new $250 “visa integrity fee” will soon be required for most foreign nationals applying to enter the United States, following the passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The fee applies to all non-immigrant visa applicants, including those traveling for tourism, business, education, or temporary work, and will be collected at the time the visa is issued. Although the law allows for reimbursement of the fee after the visa expires, the specifics of how this process will work have yet to be clarified.

Why It Matters

Since returning to office, Trump has directed his administration to remove millions of people without legal status from the country to fulfill his campaign pledge of widespread mass deportations.

The new fee significantly increases the cost of obtaining a visa, especially for families and students who are already facing high application fees and travel expenses. For example, a family of four applying for tourist visas could now face an additional $1,000 in visa integrity fees alone.

What To Know

Drawing on information from the U.S. State Department, Newsweek has created this map to illustrate which countries will be required to pay a fee to enter the country.

Nationals of countries not included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will be required to pay the $250 visa integrity fee when applying for any type of non-immigrant visa. This includes citizens of countries such as India, China, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, and the Philippines, as well as most nations in the Middle East and Africa. The fee applies to all visa categories, including short-term visas such B-1/B-2 (tourist/business), F-1 (student), H-1B (temporary worker), and J-1 (exchange visitor).

The $250 fee represents the minimum amount mandated by law for fiscal year 2025. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may increase the fee through regulatory rulemaking.

Starting in 2026, the fee will be adjusted annually to account for inflation.

While the law technically allows for a refund of the visa integrity fee, it is contingent on meeting strict compliance requirements. Travelers must fully adhere to the terms of their visa, avoid overstaying by more than five days, refrain from accepting unauthorized employment, and either depart the U.S. on time or lawfully extend or adjust their status.

Refunds can only be requested after the visa expires, which may take years depending on the visa type. Currently, there is no formal refund system in place, making the fee effectively non-refundable.

The fee also applies to employment-based visas. An H-1B applicant applying abroad—whose employer already covers a $780 application fee and a $500 anti-fraud fee may now be responsible for an additional $250 under the new visa integrity fee. Employers will need to decide whether to absorb this extra cost as part of employee benefits or pass it on to the worker.

Regardless, it represents an additional financial and administrative burden on companies, which already bear significant legal and filing expenses in sponsoring foreign employees.

What People Are Saying

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CNBC: “The visa integrity fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementation.”

What Happens Next

If you are a citizen of a country that requires a visa to enter the U.S., be prepared to pay an additional $250 on top of the existing application fees. Travelers are advised to check the latest guidance from the U.S. Department of State or their nearest embassy before making travel plans later this year.