If you’re planning to go to the United States, especially after 2026, then this news is important for you.
Starting that year, the total fee for a non-immigrant visa to the US will go up to around ₹40,000.
This includes a new ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ of $250 (about ₹21,000), which has been introduced by the US government.
This change will directly impact Indian students, tourists, business travelers, and tech companies that rely on US work visas.
How Much Will the Visa Fee Be?
According to an ET report, from 2026, the total visa application fee will be $472 (approximately ₹40,456). This includes:
Visa Integrity Fee: $250
I-94 Fee: $24
ESTA Charge: $13
This hike means the cost of a US tourist visa for Indians will increase by 2.5 times. The higher fee will apply to different visa categories like:
Tourist/Business (B-1/B-2)
Student (F/M)
Work (H-1B)
Exchange (J)
Who Will Be Affected and Why?
This fee increase will affect Indian and American tech companies that send employees to the US on work visas.
Indian students and travelers will also feel the pressure of increased costs.
According to Keshav Singhania of Singhania & Company, visa applicants should try to get appointments before 2026 to avoid paying the higher fee.
What is the Visa Integrity Fee?
The new fee is part of the Omnibus Act, which came into effect on July 4 and is linked to former President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’. Only diplomatic visas (A and G) are exempted.
This fee acts like a security deposit and will increase every year with inflation.
The amount may be refunded if the visa holder leaves the US within 5 days of their visa expiring and does not apply for an extension or change.
What Could Be the Impact?
Keshav Singhania said that while the fee may not be a big issue for tourists, it could be a serious concern for students and workers, as their refund might get delayed.
Since it’s a security-like charge, applicants must strictly follow visa rules to ensure they get their money back.
