US to Charge $250 Visa Fee for Tourists, Students from 2026 – Impact on Indian Travelers | New India Abroad
Indian nationals traveling to the United States for tourism , education, or temporary work will soon face significantly higher visa costs. Beginning in 2026, a new $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” will be imposed on most non-immigrant visa categories under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), recently signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump on July 4. This surcharge will apply to B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas, F and M student visas, H-1B work visas, and J-1 exchange visas, among others. Only diplomatic visa holders under categories A and G will be exempt. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will collect the fee at the time of visa issuance. Framed as a refundable security deposit, it will only be reimbursed if travelers fully comply with all visa conditions—such as leaving the U.S. within five days of visa expiration or adjusting their status legally—and submit the necessary proof. The new $250 charge comes on top of the existing $185 Machine-Readable Visa (...