In October 2025, the U.S. quietly added a new fee that affects nearly every nonimmigrant visa applicant: the $250 Visa Integrity Fee. If you're applying for a B-1/B-2, F-1, J-1, K-1, H-1B, or most other temporary visas, this fee now applies to you. If you're using a guide written before October 2025, the cost numbers in it are wrong.
Here's a clear breakdown of what the fee is, who pays it, when it gets charged, and what you actually need to do.
What the fee is
The Visa Integrity Fee is a $250 charge that the U.S. government collects from nonimmigrant visa applicants whose visas are approved at a consular interview abroad. It was created by a 2025 federal law as part of an effort to strengthen visa screening and fund related security programs.
The key word is integrity — the fee isn't a processing fee like the $185 MRV (machine-readable visa) fee. It's a one-time charge that helps fund the government's verification and oversight systems for nonimmigrant visa programs.
Who pays it
Most people applying for a nonimmigrant visa from outside the United States. Specifically:
- B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants
- F-1 student visa applicants
- J-1 exchange visitor applicants (including au pairs, summer work travel, interns, scholars, physicians)
- K-1 fiancé(e) visa applicants
- K-3 spouse-of-citizen applicants
- H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-3 worker visa applicants
- L-1, O-1, P, R-1 and other temporary worker visa applicants
- Most other nonimmigrant categories
Diplomatic visas (A, G, NATO) and a small set of other categories are exempt. Most regular applicants are not.
Who does NOT pay it
- Immigrant visa applicants (CR-1, IR-1 spouse visas; family-based green card applicants; employment-based green card applicants overseas). These follow a different fee structure.
- People adjusting status inside the U.S. using Form I-485 (since the fee is consular-side).
- Visa applicants whose application is denied. The fee is only paid if the visa is approved — you don't lose $250 on top of an MRV fee if you're refused.
- People applying for diplomatic categories.
When you pay it
After the consular officer informs you your visa is approved — usually at the end of the interview. The payment process varies by embassy:
- Some embassies collect it on-site as part of the visa issuance process.
- Some embassies have you pay online before the passport is returned with the visa.
- A few embassies bundle it into the existing MRV payment system, with refunds issued only if denied (uncommon but possible).
Check the specific instructions on your interviewing embassy's website. They're updated frequently as the fee implementation rolls out across the global consular network.
How it changes the math
For most applicants, the Visa Integrity Fee adds 30-60% to the government fee portion of their application. Here's how typical totals shift:
| Visa | Pre-October 2025 | Today |
|---|---|---|
| B-1/B-2 visitor | ~$185 | ~$435 (if approved) |
| F-1 student | ~$535 (MRV + SEVIS) | ~$785 (if approved) |
| J-1 (most categories) | ~$405 (MRV + SEVIS) | ~$655 (if approved) |
| K-1 fiancé(e) | ~$940 (I-129F + DS-160) | ~$1,190 (if approved) |
| H-1B (consular processing) | ~$185 | ~$435 (if approved) |
The numbers above are illustrative; actual costs vary by country (reciprocity fees) and personal situation (medical exams, document translations, etc.).
What you actually need to do
Three practical things:
1. Budget for it from the start
Don't get caught off guard at the end of your interview. Plan for the $250 even before you've been approved, so it doesn't feel like a surprise.
2. Verify the payment method at your specific embassy
Embassy fee collection systems differ. Some accept credit cards; some require bank deposit; some use specific online portals. Check your interviewing embassy's website 1-2 weeks before your interview.
3. Don't confuse the Visa Integrity Fee with other fees
Common confusion points:
- The Visa Integrity Fee is not the MRV fee ($185). The MRV is paid first and isn't refundable.
- The Visa Integrity Fee is not a reciprocity fee. Reciprocity fees vary by country and are based on how your country treats American applicants.
- The Visa Integrity Fee is not an "extra processing" fee that grants you faster or premium service. It's just a fee. Premium Processing for H-1B is a separate $2,805 product.
The bigger picture
The Visa Integrity Fee is part of a broader shift toward making the U.S. visa system more fee-funded and less general-funded. We've seen similar fee increases in recent years: USCIS raised most filing fees in 2024, the SEVIS fee structure has been adjusted multiple times since 2019, and premium processing has expanded across more categories.
Practically, this means the cost of immigrating or visiting the U.S. is creeping up faster than inflation. Budgeting at the high end of estimated costs — and verifying current fees on government websites before you file — is the only way to avoid surprises.