≡-US Sets New Standard for Visa Security with the Introduction of the Visa Integrity Fee, Impacting Global Travelers – Viral of Today
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Home » America Travel News » US Sets New Standard for Visa Security with the Introduction of the Visa Integrity Fee, Impacting Global Travelers Tuesday, July 22, 2025To ensure that its immigration system is more secure, open, and operationally efficient, the U.S. has implemented a new Visa Integrity Fee. This project is a high-water mark for visa security, created to confront escalating administrative expenses linked to U.S. visa processing. The U.S. Administration intends to use this fee to enhance the integrity of the visa and immigration system, including to cover the cost of providing the additional services only for those who seek such services, and not for those who do not. But it also makes U.S. visas costlier for many international travelers. This fee represents a major change that impacts all student, tourist and business visa applicants worldwide, and this is a significant step in U.S. immigration policy.The United States government has introduced a new fee known as the “visa integrity fee,” aimed at strengthening the security and operational effectiveness of its immigration system. The fee, set at US$250 (approximately NZ$418), will apply to specific non-immigrant visitors, helping to offset the rising administrative costs involved in processing U.S. visa applications.What Is the Visa Integrity Fee?The visa integrity fee is an extra charge imposed on individuals applying for non-immigrant visas to the United States. It is designed to enhance the security and integrity of the visa system while covering the increasing operational costs of visa processing. The fee is in addition to the current visa application charges and will apply to travelers entering the U.S. for tourism, business, or educational purposes.At US$250 (NZ$418), this fee will be assessed each time a non-immigrant visa is issued. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has the authority to increase this fee in the future, depending on factors such as inflation and changes in the economy. While the implementation date is still uncertain, the fee is expected to take effect during the 2025 fiscal year, which concludes in September 2025.Who Will Be Affected?The visa integrity fee will primarily impact those seeking non-immigrant visas, including travelers coming to the U.S. for business, tourism, or educational purposes. The fee will particularly affect B visa applicants, which are commonly used for business or tourism travel.For example, individuals applying for a B visa will have to pay the additional US$250 fee on top of their standard visa application costs. Similarly, work visa applicants, such as those seeking the H-1B visa, will also face higher fees. Currently, the H-1B visa application costs US$205, but with the new fee, the total cost will rise to US$455.This fee will be assessed each time a non-immigrant visa is issued. Therefore, travelers who need to renew their visas or apply for new ones in the future will incur this additional expense each time. For frequent travelers, this will increase the overall cost of obtaining a U.S. visa.Will New Zealand Travelers Be Affected?New Zealand citizens will likely be exempt from the visa integrity fee because New Zealand is part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Under the VWP, citizens from eligible countries, including New Zealand, can visit the U.S. for up to 90 days for tourism or business without the need for a visa. As a result, New Zealand travelers visiting for short stays will not need to pay the new visa integrity fee.However, New Zealand travelers must still apply for and obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before traveling to the U.S. ESTA is mandatory for all travelers under the Visa Waiver Program, and approval must be obtained before boarding the flight.Can the Visa Integrity Fee Be Refunded?It is still unclear whether the visa integrity fee will be refundable in certain circumstances. While official guidelines are yet to be released, there may be situations where travelers could qualify for a refund. Possible scenarios could include travelers who leave the U.S. within their authorized period, comply with the terms of their visa, or adjust their status or extend their stay legally.Refunds will not be processed automatically. Travelers who believe they are eligible for a refund will likely need to provide proof of compliance and submit a formal request to the Department of Homeland Security. Additional information on how to request refunds will be provided once the procedure is finalized.ConclusionFor those applying for non-immigrant visas to the United States, the visa integrity fee represents a major change. While the fee will affect many travelers applying for business, tourism and educational visas, it will not apply to citizens from countries in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, such as New Zealand, visiting the country for short trips. Although the new charge will raise the cost of obtaining a U.S. visa, it is being introduced as part of a wider effort to enhance the security and functionality of the U.S. visa application process. The exact process by which those fees will be refunded is still unclear, although DHS will issue additional guidance as the policy is implemented.
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