New $250 'Visa Integrity Fee' Could Undermine U.S. Tourism Momentum
The U.S. government is set to impose a $250 visa integrity fee on most nonimmigrant visas beginning October 1, 2025, as enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in July 2025.
This addition applies across categories, including tourist, business, student, and work visas. Eligibility for a refund exists (but under strict conditions), and practical reimbursement remains improbable.
Travel professionals warn that this move could exacerbate existing declines. Gabe Rizzi of Altour observes:
“Any friction we add to the traveler experience is going to cut travel volumes by some amount”.
The U.S. already recorded a 3.1 percent drop in foreign arrivals in July compared with the previous year, marking the fifth straight monthly decline as per the official data.
Economic forecasts have shifted accordingly. Tourism Economics had predicted more than a 10 percent growth in inbound travel for 2025. That projection now recalibrates to a 3 percent contraction.
Visitor spending is now expected to fall to under $169 billion, down from $181 billion in 2024.
The fee is especially steep for visitors from countries outside the Visa Waiver Program, such as India, China, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.
- Once added, the total visa cost could reach $442, among the highest in the world.
Refund eligibility relies on visa holders departing on time and adhering strictly to visa rules. Yet with no clear infrastructure for processing such refunds, many travelers may lose the amount altogether.
Additional cost increases include a jump in the ESTA fee and a rise in the Form I-94 fee.
With global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, this policy raises serious concerns about timing.
Industry experts caution that this moment of increased tourism in the U.S. could erode visitor appeal and impact future planning.
All in, the fee appears likely to deter prospective visitors, deepen existing downward trends, and place a heavier burden on various sectors reliant on international travel without clear justification that it will accomplish its stated purpose.
