U.S. Bound? Prepare for a $250 'Visa Integrity Fee'; potentially high-stakes bond costs totaling up to $15,000

US Bound? Prepare for a $250 'Visa Integrity Fee'; Bond Costs Can Reach $15,000

On August 20, 2025, the US State Department launched a significant change in its immigration policy with the introduction of a one-year Visa Bond Pilot Program. The program is aimed at assessing and observing the effectiveness of a new refundable bond system in deterring overstays for certain applicants of B-1/B-2 visitor visas.

Under the new system, applicants may be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 depending on their individual circumstances. However, it's important to note that visitors from countries eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are exempt from this fee. Notable exceptions include countries in Central and South America, such as Mexico, which will face a new $250 visa integrity fee when visiting the US.

The new fees are part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed earlier this year and are estimated to bring in around $27 billion over a decade, or $2.7 billion per year, according to The Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The money collected from the fees will go to the US Treasury Department's general fund.

The US Travel Association has criticised the fee, calling it a "giant leap backwards" that could discourage millions of potential visitors from coming. Economists, too, have raised concerns about the potential impact on the US economy. Oxford Economics estimates that the new $250-per-person fee could deter nearly 1 million fewer visits annually, ultimately costing the US economy $11 billion over three years, in lost visitor spending and lost tax revenue.

The new fees and added bureaucracy could also deter fans, students, and tourists from making the trip to the US, potentially pushing visitors and their dollars elsewhere. This lost revenue could trigger the loss of 15,000 US travel jobs.

Visitors from countries in the Visa Waiver Program will continue to be exempt from the new fee but will have to pay the cost of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which will be increased from $21 to at least $40.

Beginning October 1, 2025, a "visa integrity fee" of $250 will be implemented for most non-immigrant visas. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will administer the new visa integrity fee, but details on how travelers will request refunds, how long the process will take, or how disputes will be resolved are not yet available. If travelers comply with the terms of their visa and depart the country on time without overstaying, they may be eligible for reimbursement for the visa bond.

It's worth noting that the US is following other countries, such as the UK, which have recently enacted new fees to enter. Cross-agency coordination is required before implementation, and a rulemaking process through the Federal Register is likely.

This change in policy will affect approximately seventy-two million visitors who enter the US each year. As always, it's essential to stay informed and comply with all immigration requirements when planning your trip to the US.