US Visa Costs Rise by 148% for Indian Travelers and Students with New $250 Fee

The US has introduced a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee for Indian travelers, students, and professionals, increasing overall visa costs by 148%. The fee is mandatory for all non-immigrant visa applicants and applies at the time of visa approval, not during initial application. It cannot be waived or reduced and adds substantially to existing visa costs. The fee will be adjusted annually for inflation and can be refunded in specific cases if visa rules were followed precisely.

Indian nationals planning to visit the United States for tourism, study, or work will soon face a significant increase in visa-related costs. Under the newly signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a mandatory $250 ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ will be charged on most non-immigrant visa categories starting next year [1].

The fee applies to B-1/B-2 (tourist/business), F and M (student), H-1B (work), J (exchange), and other temporary visa categories. Only diplomatic visas (A and G classes) have been exempted from this fee [1]. The Visa Integrity Fee is collected by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the time of issuing the visa and is non-waivable. It serves as a security deposit and can be refunded if the visa holder complies with all conditions, such as departing the US within five days of visa expiration or legally changing their status [1].

Starting 2026, Indian tourists applying for visas to the United States will see additional charges. The standard visa application fee will remain unchanged at $185, but applicants will also be required to pay a $24 I-94 surcharge in addition to the $250 Visa Integrity Fee. For those using ESTA or EVUS, additional charges of $13 or $30, respectively, will apply [1].

The introduction of the Visa Integrity Fee is part of the broader set of new travel-related charges. These include a $24 I-94 fee, a $13 ESTA fee for travellers under the Visa Waiver Programme, and a $30 EVUS fee for some Chinese nationals [2]. For Indian applicants, the cost of a US tourist/business visa (B-1/B-2), which currently stands at $185 (around Rs 15,855), could rise to around $472 (Rs 40,456) when all new fees are added, nearly two-and-a-half times the current amount [2].

The fee is being seen as a form of security deposit, designed to encourage lawful behaviour while in the US. However, critics argue that this surcharge discriminates against law-abiding travellers, especially from developing countries like India [1].

The new fee structure will have a significant impact on Indian travellers, students, and professionals. The cost of a US visa could increase by more than 148%, making it harder for them to afford travel and potentially leading to a reduction in the number of Indian visitors to the US [1].

Reference List:
[1] https://www.livemint.com/news/new-us-visa-fee-structure-here-s-what-indian-tourists-students-h-1b-holders-must-prepare-for-11752072375498.html
[2] https://www.news18.com/world/heading-to-us-new-250-visa-integrity-fee-awaits-indian-tourists-students-h-1b-workers-ws-l-9430703.html