Under the US Visa Integrity and Security Fee provisions, a new $250 charge has been created in statute that will apply to most nonimmigrant visa issuances, including visitor, student, work and dependant categories, once the fee is implemented. The fee is intended to be collected by the Department of State at US consulates when a visa is issued and will sit alongside the existing MRV fee and any reciprocity fee.
For employers, the practical impact is indirect but real, because every new visa stamp for staff and accompanying family members is expected to carry its own integrity fee once the system goes live. As at the time of writing, the fee framework is in place in the legislation but the Department of State has not yet started collecting the charge and no formal start date has been announced, so the focus for organisations and applicants is on advance planning rather than immediate payment.
Section A: What Is the US Visa Integrity and Security Fee?
The Visa Integrity and Security Fee is a statutory charge of $250 that will apply to the issuance of most US nonimmigrant visas, including categories such as B, F, J, H and L, once the provisions are brought into effect. Under the legislation, the fee is to be collected by the Department of State at the point the consular officer approves the visa application, meaning it arises only when a physical visa foil is issued. It sits alongside existing charges like the MRV fee and any reciprocity fee, increasing the total cost of securing a visa but not altering the underlying eligibility criteria for travel. At the time of writing, the fee has been created in law but is not yet being charged at US embassies or consulates and the implementation date remains to be confirmed.
Because the fee is tied to visa issuance rather than petition filing, it affects both employer-sponsored and non-sponsored categories. Workers, students, visitors and their dependants all fall within scope unless an exemption applies. The statutory framework also allows for periodic adjustments to the fee level, so employers and frequent travellers should anticipate that the $250 baseline may rise over time once the Department of State updates its schedules. Although the fee is legally payable by the applicant as a consular charge, many employers with mobility programmes are likely to reimburse it in practice as part of their relocation or travel support once collection begins.
The introduction of the integrity fee marks a broader policy shift toward generating additional funding for visa security, fraud prevention and operational improvements. It also means that individuals who do not normally incur significant consular charges, such as short-term business travellers or dependants, will face higher upfront costs for visa issuance once the fee is live. Planning travel or overseas assignments therefore requires a clear view of when a new visa stamp is needed and when the rules will take effect, as each issuance is expected to trigger a fresh $250 integrity fee.
Section B: Which Applicants Have to Pay the Integrity Fee?
The integrity fee is designed to apply to almost all applicants for nonimmigrant visas other than those explicitly exempted under statute or Department of State policy. The scope is intentionally broad and includes visitor visas, student visas, exchange visas, temporary work visas and dependant classifications. Once implemented, any applicant who receives a visa foil in their passport is expected to be charged the $250 fee in addition to the standard visa application fee. The charge arises at the point of issuance, so it is not refunded simply because an applicant later decides not to travel, although the legislation does contemplate a separate compliance-based reimbursement mechanism that has not yet been fully detailed.
There are limited exemptions. Travellers who do not require a visa, such as those entering under the Visa Waiver Program using ESTA, do not pay the integrity fee because no visa is issued. Certain diplomatic and official categories, such as A or G visas, can also fall outside the fee schedule where the Department of State applies statutory or policy-based exemptions. Applicants for immigrant visas and Green Cards are not charged the integrity fee, as it applies only to nonimmigrant categories.
Although the charge is legally the responsibility of the applicant, in employer-sponsored categories many organisations are likely to absorb the fee to maintain consistency across their mobility policies once it starts to be collected. Where family members accompany a worker, each dependant’s visa issuance triggers a separate $250 charge, which can increase assignment costs for employers that provide full-family support. Early confirmation of how each category is treated under internal policy will help avoid misunderstandings at the consular stage when the fee goes live.
Section C: How Much Is the Integrity Fee and When Is It Paid?
The visa integrity fee is set in statute at a minimum of $250 per applicant and is intended to apply to most nonimmigrant visa categories, including visitor, student and work visas such as B-1/B-2, F-1, H-1B and L-1, together with dependant categories like H-4 and L-2. The figure of $250 is written into the legislation as the baseline level and the government has power to increase it periodically to reflect inflation, so organisations should treat the current amount as a starting point rather than a permanent ceiling once implementation begins.
| Visa category / traveller type | Visa Integrity Fee per applicant | Who pays the fee |
|---|---|---|
| Most nonimmigrant visas (for example B-1/B-2, F, M, J, H, L, O, P, TN) | $250 per visa issuance, in addition to MRV and any reciprocity or SEVIS fees | The nonimmigrant visa applicant pays the fee at the consulate when the visa is issued. Employers can choose to reimburse under internal policy. |
| Dependants of nonimmigrant workers (for example H-4, L-2, F-2, J-2) | $250 per dependant visa issuance, in addition to standard visa fees | Each dependant applicant pays their own fee. The principal worker or employer may reimburse, but there is no legal requirement to do so. |
| Visa Waiver Program travellers using ESTA (no visa stamp) | $0 Visa Integrity Fee (ESTA fee applies instead) | No integrity fee is payable because no visa is issued. The traveller pays the ESTA charge only. |
| Immigrant visas and Green Card applicants | $0 Visa Integrity Fee | No integrity fee is charged on immigrant visas. Standard immigrant visa and USCIS filing fees apply instead. |
| Diplomatic and certain official visa categories (for example A and G where exempted) | $0 Visa Integrity Fee where a statutory or policy exemption applies | No integrity fee is payable where an exemption is recognised under the legislation or Department of State policy. |
Once the fee is implemented, it will be charged at the point of visa issuance at a US embassy or consulate, not when a petition is filed with USCIS. In other words, it will be payable when the consular officer approves the nonimmigrant visa and before the visa is placed in the passport. The Department of State will collect the integrity fee in addition to the standard visa application fee and any reciprocity fee, so the overall cost per visa will rise once the integrity fee goes live.
Legally, the charge falls on the visa applicant, because it is tied to issuance of the visa rather than the employer’s petition. In practice, many employers are likely to reimburse the fee for workers and dependants as part of their mobility policy, especially for assignments that they initiate. There is currently no bar in the legislation on reimbursement, so employers have discretion to decide whether to absorb the cost or leave it to individual travellers, and internal policy decisions here will directly affect the real cost impact on the business.
Although the integrity fee provisions are already in force in the statute, implementation still relies on further regulatory steps and systems changes. Government commentary indicates that collection is expected to start from a future fiscal period, with the working assumption that it will apply to visas issued after the implementation date rather than retroactively. Until that happens, applicants are not yet being charged the fee, but employers and frequent travellers can factor the additional $250 per person into forward cost planning for trips and assignments that are likely to require new visas once the fee is live.
Section D: Impact on H-1B, L-1 and Other Filings
The integrity fee does not change eligibility rules for H-1B, L-1 or other nonimmigrant categories, but it does change the cost profile for any case that needs a consular visa stamp once the fee is live. For employers, the main impact is on assignment budgets and travel planning rather than on USCIS petition strategy. Each time a worker or dependant attends a US consulate for a new visa, a separate $250 integrity fee is expected to apply in addition to the MRV fee and any reciprocity fee. This has particular implications for employers that rely on frequent travel, repeat visa renewals or family-accompanied assignments.
H-1B and L-1 populations are likely to feel the effect more than most because these categories often involve overseas hires or workers who travel in and out of the United States and need periodic visa renewals. Where a worker changes status inside the US and does not travel, no visa issuance takes place and the integrity fee is not triggered. Once that worker leaves the US and requires a visa stamp to re-enter, the fee will arise at the consular stage. Mapping who actually needs a visa stamp, and how often, becomes more important when each issuance carries a fixed additional cost.
From a policy perspective, organizations will need to decide whether the business will reimburse the fee for workers and dependants or leave it as a personal expense. That decision affects the real cost of each assignment and should be aligned with existing policies on MRV fees, medicals and relocation expenses. Larger employers may also find they need better internal reporting on consular usage, so they can forecast how many new visa issuances are likely each year once the integrity fee is operational. Even though consulates are not yet collecting the fee, forward-looking cost planning will help avoid surprises when the implementation date is announced.
For now, the integrity fee sits in the planning column rather than the immediate action column. The statutory framework is in place, but the Department of State has not yet confirmed when posts will start to collect the fee or how any compliance-based refund process will work. Employers that know they have heavy nonimmigrant visa usage, especially in H-1B and L-1 categories, should take the opportunity to review their mobility policies, assignment patterns and likely consular touchpoints so they are ready to adjust once the fee goes live, rather than reacting at short notice.
Section E: Summary
The Visa Integrity and Security Fee represents a structural change to the way nonimmigrant visa travel will be funded once the provisions take effect. A $250 charge has been written into law for most nonimmigrant visa issuances, to be collected at US consulates alongside existing MRV and reciprocity fees. Although the legal framework is now in place, the Department of State has not yet started to collect the fee and no official start date has been confirmed. That means applicants are not currently being asked to pay the integrity fee, but they should expect it to feature in future consular visits once implementation is announced.
For employers, the real impact sits in planning rather than eligibility. Every new visa stamp for a worker or dependant is expected to carry the integrity fee once the system goes live, and the baseline amount can be adjusted upwards over time. Organizations that rely on H-1B, L-1 or other nonimmigrant categories should start to factor the additional $250 per person into forward-looking budgets and should decide whether the business will reimburse the fee as part of its mobility policy. Until there is clear guidance on the start date and any compliance-based refund process, the safest approach is to treat the fee as a future, nonrefundable consular cost that will need to be covered whenever a new visa is issued.
Section G: Visa Integrity Fee FAQs
What is the US Visa Integrity and Security Fee?
The Visa Integrity and Security Fee is a $250 charge created in statute that is intended to apply when most nonimmigrant visas are issued at a US embassy or consulate. It will sit on top of the standard visa application fee and any reciprocity fee and is expected to cover a wide range of categories, including visitors, students, workers and their dependants, once it is implemented.
Is the integrity fee in force yet?
No. The fee framework has been enacted in law, but the Department of State has not started collecting the fee and has not announced an implementation date. As at now, applicants are not being asked to pay the integrity fee at consular appointments and existing visa fees continue to apply without the additional $250 charge.
Who will have to pay the integrity fee once it goes live?
Most applicants for nonimmigrant visas are expected to pay the fee each time a new visa stamp is issued, unless they fall within a specific exemption. That means a separate $250 charge for each family member who needs a visa, on top of other consular fees. Visa Waiver Program travellers using ESTA and applicants for immigrant visas are not covered by the integrity fee provisions.
When will the integrity fee be paid?
Once implemented, the fee will be payable at the point of visa issuance, after the consular officer approves the application and before the visa is placed in the passport. It will not be charged when a petition is filed with USCIS and it will not be collected if the visa application is refused. The exact start date for collection will be set out in future government announcements.
Does the integrity fee apply only to H-1B and L-1 workers?
No. The fee is much broader in scope. It is designed to cover most nonimmigrant categories, including B-1/B-2 visitors, F and M students, J exchange visitors and petition-based workers such as H, L and O, together with their dependant classifications. H-1B and L-1 workers are affected, but they are just part of the overall nonimmigrant visa population that will pay the new charge once in force.
Who is legally responsible for paying the fee, the employer or the applicant?
The fee is a consular charge tied to visa issuance and is legally payable by the applicant. In employer-sponsored cases, many organizations are likely to reimburse the fee for workers and sometimes for dependants as part of their mobility policy, but there is no legal requirement on employers to do so. Internal policy choices determine where the cost ultimately sits.
Can the integrity fee be refunded?
The legislation allows for a possible reimbursement mechanism where the visa holder complies fully with their conditions, departs on time or secures a lawful extension or Green Card, but the detailed process has not yet been set out by the government. Until there is clear agency guidance on how refunds will work in practice, applicants and employers should plan on the basis that the fee will operate as a nonrefundable consular cost.
Section H: Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Visa Integrity and Security Fee | An additional employer fee that applies to certain H-1B and L-1 cases where dependency or compliance triggers are met |
| H-1B Dependent Employer | An employer with a high proportion of H-1B workers compared with its US workforce, assessed against statutory headcount thresholds |
| INA Violations | Specific breaches of Immigration and Nationality Act requirements, including failures to meet H-1B wage, notice or working condition rules |
| ACWIA Training Fee | A mandatory H-1B filing fee used to fund training for US workers, charged in addition to other filing fees |
| Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee | A surcharge for initial H-1B and L-1 petitions, designed to fund anti-fraud activity and paid alongside base filing fees |
Section I: Additional Resources
| Resource | What it Covers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| USCIS H-1B Employer Requirements | Guidance on dependency and compliance rules | https://www.uscis.gov |
| USCIS Fee Schedule | Current petition filing fees and surcharges | https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees |
| Department of State Visa Fee Rules | Consular processing fees and collection stages | https://travel.state.gov |
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.