If you’re planning to visit, study, or work in the US, be ready to spend more on your visa.
The US government has introduced a new rule that adds a ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ of $250 (about ₹21,000) to most non-immigrant visa categories.
This change is part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed by President Donald Trump on July 4.
The new fee will now apply to common visa types such as:
B-1/B-2 (for tourism and business)
F and M (student visas)
H-1B (work visa)
J (exchange program)
Only diplomatic visa holders (categories A and G) are exempted from this new fee. This change will especially impact Indian students and professionals planning to go to the US.
US Visa Will Be Costlier Now
This extra $250 fee will be collected at the time of visa issuance, and it will be added on top of the regular visa application fee. This rule will start from the 2025 financial year.
What’s more—the fee amount can increase every year based on inflation, as the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has the power to revise it.
So, the cost may keep rising in the coming years, making the visa process more expensive over time.
This rule will impact almost all non-immigrant visa seekers, including students, tourists, and workers.
Travel to the US to Be Nearly 2.5x More Expensive
For Indian citizens, getting a US visa will now cost much more than before.
Currently, the B-1/B-2 visa (for business and tourism) costs $185 (around ₹15,855).
After adding the new $250 fee, the total jumps to $435, and with other charges, it may reach around $472 (₹40,456).
That’s almost 2.5 times higher than the earlier cost.
Other New Fees to Know About
According to US immigration firm Fragomen, travelers to the US may now have to pay several additional charges, such as:
I-94 fee (for arrival/departure record): $24
ESTA fee (for travelers under Visa Waiver Program): $13
EVUS fee (for certain Chinese citizens): $30
And the most impactful: the new $250 Visa Integrity Fee for almost all non-immigrant visas
What This Means for Indian Travelers
For Indian travelers, especially tourists and students, the visa cost is now significantly higher.
The cost of a regular B-1/B-2 visa goes from $185 to about $472 after the new rule, which is a massive hike.
Anyone planning a trip to the US will now have to budget more—not just for tickets and accommodation, but also for the much costlier visa process.
