Visa integrity fee: The new $250 charge visitors to US must pay under Trump scheme
The fee, $250 (£186) for the 2025 fiscal year, applies to all visitors travelling to the US on a non-immigrant visa (but not those who travel with a visa waiver).
It's due to affect millions of tourists, international students and workers after the Trump administration's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' was signed into law on 4 July 2025.
The fee will be charged on top of existing visa application costs – including a newly increased 'Form 1-94 fee', now $24 (£18).
According to section 10007 of the Act: 'In addition to any other fee authorized by law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require the payment of a fee, equal to the amount specified in this subsection, by any alien issued a nonimmigrant visa at the time of such issuance.'
It also states that the $250 charge cannot be waived or reduced.
However, travellers on a non-immigrant visa may be able to have the fee reimbursed if they comply with all visa conditions, including not accepting unauthorised employment, while in the US.
Those who depart the US no later than five days after their visa expires or gain 'lawful permanent resident' status will also be eligible for a reimbursement.
The charge is not yet set up to be collected but will be effective during the US fiscal year, which runs from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025.
The law doesn't specify exactly when or how the fee will be paid or reimbursements will be issued.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CBNC: 'The visa integrity fee requires cross-agency coordination before implementation.'
It added: 'President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill provides the necessary policies and resources to restore integrity in our nation's immigration system.'
The visa integrity fee can be changed by the Secretary of Homeland Security and will be adjusted annually, per inflation.
A ' Report of the Visa Office' found that almost 11 million nonimmigrant visas were issued in 2024 alone.
Many UK travellers, as well as those from more than 40 countries such as Australia, Japan and Singapore, do not need visas to enter the US for less than 90 days under the Visa Waiver Programme. These tourists will be exempt from the charge. Most visit on an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (Esta), which is also due to increase in price – almost doubling from the current $21 (£16) fee to $40 (£30).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Martha's Vineyard film fest returns with Black star power, bold storytelling and cultural legacy
No matter the time on Martha's Vineyard, a shimmering glow will be powered by the star presence of Black filmmakers, actors and tastemakers like Issa Rae, Mara Brock Akil and Michelle Obama who are shaping culture on their own terms. For two-plus decades, the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival has been a cultural reunion, a summer sanctuary and a safe haven where some of the industry's most influential voices converge in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. This week marks the return of the 23rd annual nine-day celebration, which kicks off Friday with a stacked slate that includes appearances from singer-actor Jennifer Hudson and Hall of Fame basketball player Dwyane Wade, screenings like Spike Lee 's 'Highest 2 Lowest' and intimate conversations with figures such as the Rev. Al Sharpton. Over the years, the festival has drawn the who's who of Black Hollywood — including Ava DuVernay, Kerry Washington, Tyler Perry and Regina King. The Obamas made a surprise appearance in 2022. 'It's a moment when so many of us converge and gather in a location that has historically received us incredibly well,' said Tracee Ellis Ross, who will screen her new Roku Channel series 'Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross.' The three-episode show follows Ross as she embarks on solo journeys to unplug, indulge and reconnect through Morocco, Mexico and Spain. Ross said traveling solo is a way of life. She said sharing her project at MVAAFF felt right, noting that the Vineyard-set episode of Akil's 'Forever' captures the spirit and beauty of the picturesque island. 'It felt like the perfect location to kind of share,' she said. 'The timing was perfect from when the show came out.' What makes MVAAFF a must-stop? Set on the campus of the Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center and the Vineyard Lounge, the festival has grown from a grassroots gathering into a premier destination where Black creatives can find inspiration, connection and support. Akil paid homage to festival founders Stephanie and Floyd Rance, crediting them for building a creative pipeline where stories rooted in Black culture live and are seen. 'They know the value. They know the need,' said Akil, who will screen 'The Vineyard' episode from the Netflix series 'Forever' at the festival. 'Regardless of what the institution or systems of Hollywood sees as valuable, we claim the value of our stories. We have a chance to celebrate them, complete them, tell them, view them and share them with an audience. It allows for the completion of the story, so that we can move on to many, many, many more stories that need to be told.' Floyd Rance described MVAAFF as a vital part of the entertainment ecosystem, offering a platform where Black voices and stories are given the spotlight they deserve. 'It's always good to have somewhat of a convergence for folks of like mind in the arts and entertainment to gather, coalesce, share ideas, rekindle friendships and fellowship,' said Floyd, who along with Stephanie said they did not expect their festival to become such a main attraction. 'Despite the political climate and what's going on in entertainment, it's always a good time for birds of a feather to flock together.' In addition to the panels and screenings, Stephanie Rance said this year's festival centers on the theme of joy, focusing more on celebration than struggle. She's especially excited for attendees to experience a range of conversations, from little-known moments in Black history to a panel on Ralph Lauren's Oak Bluffs collection with Morehouse and Spelman. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture will host a discussion on Black dandyism, paying tribute to fashion icon André Leon Talley. 'The community at large on the Vineyard and the folks that come from all over the world to the festival really embrace the filmmakers,' she said. 'Everybody loves the studio and the streaming content and the talent that comes in. But we really are a filmmakers' film fest at heart.' What else is happening on the Vineyard? This year's festival is delivering a dynamic slate that blends star power, conversation and creative insight. Spike Lee will unveil exclusive clips from his upcoming film 'Highest 2 Lowest' starring Denzel Washington. Courtney B. Vance is set to lead a panel on Black storytelling, diving into how content creation can retain cultural authenticity. Jennifer Hudson will open up about her Emmy-nominated daytime talk show, while Dwyane Wade will participate in a men's luncheon with industry leaders to discuss leadership, legacy and capital in today's evolving media space. Joy Reid is hosting a fireside chat on power and purpose. Issa Rae returns with a preview of part two of her documentary 'Seen & Heard,' continuing her exploration of visibility for Black creatives. And Debbie Allen will be honored with a tribute to 'A Different World,' celebrating the force the show continues to be decades later. The screenings will showcase a wide range of Black storytelling, including Starz's 'Magic City: American Fantasy,' the Tyler Perry-produced 'Old Mary Mare,' HBO Max's 'The Gilded Age,' and Ryan Coogler's critically acclaimed 'Sinners.' Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson will hold a live taping of their podcast that'll include an interview with Teyana Taylor. For returning filmmakers like Andre Gaines, the festival has become a cultural home to showcase work. This year marks his third screening at MVAAFF, where he'll show 'The Dutchman,' a bold reimagining of Amiri Baraka's searing 1964 play. 'It's great to show our stories in front of our people and get this visceral and genuine reaction when it comes to things that we're familiar with,' said Gaines, who's also collaborating with MVAAFF founders Stephanie and Floyd Rance on a documentary about the late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott. Gaines said the festival affirms the value of Black storytelling in a way that mainstream spaces often overlook. 'Some people look at our festivals, media or award shows as being less than what the mainstream or our white contemporaries might consider them to be, but they aren't,' he said. 'That's the beauty of this festival. We talk to each other and herald the filmmakers that came before us and the ones currently working. We get this grand opportunity to come together in that form.'
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
White House uses Jet2 meme to promote ICE deportations
The White House has posted a controversial tweet on X using a viral British airline advert meme to seemingly mock migrants being deported. The tweet featured handcuffed undocumented individuals being escorted onto an ICE-contracted flight, captioned with a sarcastic reference to a " Jet2 holiday to deportation." The post sparked widespread outrage among social media users, who condemned it as "disgusting" and "mind blowing." Singer Jess Glynne, whose song is part of the meme, expressed her disgust, stating her music promotes "love, unity, and spreading positivity," not "division or hate." The incident aligns with President Donald Trump 's recent signing of a law allocating significant funds for border enforcement and his pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
FDA's top vaccine official leaves post after less than four months
The top vaccine official at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Vinay Prasad, has left the federal agency less than four months after being appointed as the head of the division overseeing biological products like blood, vaccines, and cellular and gene therapies, a government spokesperson has said. Prasad, an oncologist and a professor of epidemiology, biostatistics and medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, had previously criticized the FDA. He was a fierce critic of US Covid-19 vaccine and mask mandates and, in the second Trump administration, he was controversially appointed as the director of the FDA's center for biologics evaluation and research in May. 'Dr Prasad did not want to be a distraction to the great work of the FDA in the Trump administration and has decided to return to California and spend more time with his family,' a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services told Reuters in an emailed statement on Tuesday evening. Endpoints News first reported Prasad's departure. The government gave no details about the reason for his departure but he had fierce critics on both sides of the political aisle and the Washington Post reported, citing unnamed sources, that he had been ousted amid protests by conservative voices, with no response from Prasad to requests for comment. His exit came after a number of unusual regulatory actions, including those taken recently by the agency on Sarepta Therapeutics' gene therapy, Elevidys. 'Unprecedentedly, there were multiple press leaks from the FDA, negatively impacting [the drug's] credibility,' said Kostas Bilouris, BMO Capital Markets analyst. During Prasad's short stint in post, the FDA limited the use of Covid-19 vaccines and declined to approve therapies from biotech companies Replimune, which sought the green light for a treatment for advanced melanomas, and Capricor Therapeutics' treatment for a form of muscular dystrophy. The regulator's decisions under Prasad raised concerns that he was anti-patient choice, Jefferies analyst Roger Song said, adding that investors will see his departure as a positive for gene therapy and vaccine makers. Biotech stocks had plunged at the news of Prasad's appointment in May. The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index had declined 7% then, but later recovered. Shares of Replimmune rose 58%, Sarepta was up 11.2% and Capricor added 21.2% in premarket trading on Wednesday. Prasad also held the additional role of the agency's chief medical and science officer, to which he was appointed last month, according to STAT News. Nominating a more seasoned official to replace him could help the FDA rebuild its credibility, Bilouris said.
