Hidden within the 940 pages of President Donald Trump‘s economic blueprint, which he has dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” lies a provision that could significantly impact international tourism in the United States – a sector already facing challenges following Trump’s implementation of his stringent immigration policies.
Foreign visitors to the U.S. will now be mandated to pay a “visa integrity fee” upon entry to the country, as outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Trump signed into law earlier this month.
Specifics regarding the new fee remain limited, including collection methods and potential reimbursement options, with a U.S. Travel Association spokesperson telling CNBC that this has created “significant challenges and unanswered questions regarding implementation.”
The fee is set at $250 per visa during the U.S. fiscal year 2025, spanning from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025; nevertheless, the legislation grants Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem the authority to increase the fee at her discretion, as specified in the provision.
Following that period, the fee will be modified to account for inflation, the bill states, reports the Irish Star.
This new “visa integrity fee” will impact visitors requiring nonimmigrant visas, encompassing tourists, business travelers, and international students. Certain travelers, including those from Australia, Japan, and numerous European countries, may be exempt under the Visa Waiver Program.
The fee will only be required once the visa is issued, meaning those who apply and are denied visas will not be charged. This new fee will not replace any existing fees for visa applicants and recipients but will be an additional charge on top of regular visa fees.
“For example, an H-1B worker already paying a $205 application fee may now expect to pay a total of $455 once this fee is in place,” stated Steven A. Brown, a partner at the Houston-based immigration law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, in a post on his firm’s website.
Furthermore, the $250 fee will be added to the “Form I-94 fee,” which was increased from $6 to $24 under Trump’s economic plan. This fee must be paid by anyone required to submit a Form I-94 arrival and departure record, applicable to most travelers.
Travelers can potentially have the fee reimbursed by adhering to the conditions of their visa, including “not accept[ing] unauthorized employment,” and not overstaying their visa by more than five days, as per the provision.
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According to Brown, the fee has not yet been implemented, and it remains unclear when the Department of Homeland Security will start collecting it.
“I believe it would need a regulation, or at least a notice in the Federal Register, regarding implementation on collection,” Brown commented.
The U.S. Travel Association told CNBC that it is also uncertain how travelers will be expected to pay the fee.
“The bill directs the DHS Secretary to charge the fee, but DHS does not own the visa application, issuance, or renewal process – so where and when would DHS collect the fee?” a spokesperson questioned.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson explained to CNBC regarding the visa integrity fee: “The visa integrity fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementation.”
The Congressional Budget Office has noted that since many visas are valid for several years, they anticipate “a small number of people would seek reimbursement.”
Additionally, the CBO has projected that “CBO expects that the Department of State would need several years to implement a process for providing reimbursements. On that basis, CBO estimates that enacting the provision would increase revenues and decrease the deficit by $28.9 billion over the 2025‐2034 period.”
Brown is advising his clients to consider the fee as nonrefundable, stating, “If you get it back, great. But it is usually difficult to get money back from the government,” and suggesting they should see it as a ‘bonus’ if they do receive a refund.
“President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill provides the necessary policies and resources to restore integrity in our nation’s immigration system,” declared a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson to CNBC.
