Trump Bill Places New Tax on Visas and Tourism

Overview of the $250 Visa Integrity Fee in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act

On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 1, officially titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a monumental legislative package that integrates tax reforms, infrastructure investments, healthcare adjustments, and robust immigration enforcement measures. This bill, often referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” represents a comprehensive “America First” agenda, aiming to stimulate economic growth while tightening border security. Among its most discussed provisions is the introduction of a new $250 “visa integrity fee” targeted at foreign nationals applying for nonimmigrant visas to enter the United States. This fee, effective for visas issued starting in fiscal year 2025 (which began on October 1, 2024, but with practical collections ramping up post-enactment), adds a financial hurdle to temporary entries, with the goal of enhancing compliance and funding enforcement initiatives. According to a USCIS statement released on July 11, 2025, the agency will soon begin collecting these new fees, with forms postmarked on or after August 21, 2025, potentially facing rejection if the fee is omitted. The fee’s rollout has been immediate in principle since the bill’s signing, but agencies like the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are still finalizing systems for full implementation, expected by late July or early August 2025.

Details of the Fee: What It Is, Who Pays, and How It Works

The visa integrity fee is a mandatory charge of at least $250—subject to annual inflation adjustments—levied on the issuance of nonimmigrant visas by the U.S. Department of State at embassies and consulates worldwide. Nonimmigrant visas encompass temporary categories such as B-1/B-2 for tourists and business travelers, F-1 for students, H-1B for specialty occupation workers, H-2A/H-2B for agricultural and seasonal laborers, J-1 for exchange visitors, and others for medical treatment or cultural programs. This fee is additive to the existing $185 nonimmigrant visa application fee, pushing the total cost to at least $435 for affected applicants. Payment occurs during the visa issuance process, typically after an interview at a U.S. diplomatic post, and is non-refundable upfront. However, a unique reimbursement mechanism exists: If the visa holder fully complies with the terms—such as departing the U.S. within five days of the visa’s expiration or successfully extending status without violations— they may apply for a refund through DHS. Details on the reimbursement process, including timelines and documentation requirements, are still being clarified by DHS, with initial guidance expected soon.

Primarily, the fee impacts nationals from countries not participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows visa-free entry for up to 90 days for citizens of over 40 nations, including most European countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.