The $250 'Visa Integrity Fee': What It Means For Tourists, and U.S. Tourism
Travelling to the U.S. just got even more complicated and expensive. As of late 2025, anyone applying for a traditional U.S. visa will be hit with a new $250 (approx. £190) charge, on top of the standard visa fees.
The new "visa integrity fee" is part of a broader Trump-backed immigration and border bill, and it’s raising eyebrows across the travel industry. It may sound like a niche admin update, but for families, tour operators, and major tourist hubs like Disney, Universal, and Las Vegas, it could have a real-world impact.
Let’s break it down in simple terms.
What is the U.S. visa integrity fee?
It’s a new $250 (£190) fee charged after your visa is approved but before it’s issued.
It applies to non-immigrant visa categories, including tourist (B-1/B-2), work, student, and exchange visas.
It cannot be waived and is separate from the standard $185 (£140) application fee.
You pay it per person, per application.
The new fee will apply to visas issued for Fiscal Year 2025 onwards, starting 1 October 2025.
In theory, if you visit the U.S., follow all the rules, leave when you say you will, and don’t overstay or change visa types, you may be eligible for a refund. But the refund process is not clearly defined and may take months or years to process if it happens at all.
So what does that mean in practice?
If you apply for a visa, get approved, pay the $250 (£190), visit America for a few weeks, and return home on time, you should be eligible for a refund.
If you extend your stay, change your visa type, or violate any conditions, you will not get that money back.
Do I have to pay it if I'm from the UK?
Not necessarily.
The U.S. has a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) which includes the UK and over 40 other countries. You can view the official list of eligible countries here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html. If you're from one of these countries and just visiting for up to 90 days, you can apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) instead of a full visa.
So let’s say:
You're from the UK
Planning a two-week holiday to Florida
You've never overstayed or been denied a visa before
In that case, you can apply for ESTA, which costs $21 (£16.50) and does not include the $250 integrity fee.
But if you’ve had issues with U.S. immigration before, plan to stay longer than 90 days, or are travelling for work or study, you’ll need a non-immigrant visa and will have to pay the full amount.
The official ESTA site is:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov — Always apply through the official site to avoid scams.
Can I visit the U.S. more than once?
If you're travelling on a full visa (e.g. a B-1/B-2 tourist visa), these usually last up to 10 years, and yes, you can enter multiple times during that period.
But:
You still pay the $250 fee once per visa issuance
If you're reapplying or your visa expires, you pay again
If you're using ESTA:
ESTA is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires
You can visit as many times as you like within that period, but each stay must be under 90 days
Which countries have to pay the $250 fee?
If you're not from a Visa Waiver country, you can expect to pay it.
That may include citizens from countries like:
India
China
South Africa
Brazil
Thailand
Nigeria
It may also include European countries not part of the Visa Waiver Program (e.g. Serbia, Ukraine). If you're from countries like Australia, Sweden, France, or Germany, and you're eligible for ESTA, then you won't need to pay, but always double-check your eligibility before booking.
A key example: China
In 2019, before the pandemic, China was the third largest overseas source of U.S. tourism, with around 2.8 million Chinese visitors annually. These travellers contributed approximately $33 billion to the U.S. economy, spending heavily on retail, luxury goods, and multi-city travel. That number dropped during COVID and has not fully recovered. Adding a $250 fee per person could further slow the rebound, especially for families and group travellers.
Will this affect U.S. tourism?
Almost definitely.
A family of four from a non-VWP country could now pay:
$185 (£140) standard visa fee x4 = $740 (£560)
$250 (£190) integrity fee x4 = $1,000 (£750) Total: $1,740 (£1310) just for the paperwork.
And that’s before flights, hotels, car hire, insurance, or theme park tickets.
With international tourism already down 6 percent this year, it’s a worrying time for U.S. destinations that rely on global visitors, especially the big names:
Disney and Universal in Florida and California
Las Vegas casinos and resorts
Major Los Angeles attractions like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, and museum tours
Broadway and New York attractions
How will brands survive this?
1. Be upfront
Tourism businesses need to communicate this change clearly and help travellers understand who it applies to and who it doesn't.
2. Target low-hassle travellers
Focus on Visa Waiver countries like the UK, Germany, and Japan. These guests are cheaper to acquire and more likely to book.
3. Offer fee-offsetting perks
Bundle park tickets, hotel credits, or gift cards that help cushion the cost of the new fee.
4. Get smarter with marketing
Emphasise experience, ease, and once-in-a-lifetime value. The U.S. trip is already aspirational, so make it feel worth it.
5. Adapt for shorter visits
With costs rising, visitors may choose short breaks over longer holidays. Highlight 3 to 5 day experiences packed with value.
Final word
The $250 visa integrity fee might sound like a bureaucratic detail, but it could have a ripple effect on who visits, how often they come back, and where they spend their money.
For now, UK holidaymakers using ESTA are safe. But for millions of others, it’s another barrier to entry at a time when the U.S. tourism economy can hardly afford to lose guests.
Whether brands rise to the challenge or not might just decide how crowded those Florida rollercoasters feel in 2026.
As with all visa-related changes, make sure to check official U.S. government websites for the most up-to-date information before you book or apply.