By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
NON-IMMIGRANT visitors to the United States of America (USA) will now be required to pay a mandatory $250 visa integrity fee under a new immigration law introduced by the President Donald Trump administration.
The measure, contained in the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is aimed at enforcing stricter compliance with visa conditions and forms part of broader reforms to the US immigration system.
The legislation authorises the secretary of homeland security to adjust the fee above the $250 baseline.
It also clarifies that only successful visa applicants will be charged.
Those whose applications are denied will not be subject to the fee.
However, applicants must still pay standard visa processing fees in addition to the integrity charge.
According to the bill, the fee becomes payable at the point of visa issuance and applies to all non-immigrant categories, including tourists, business visitors, and international students, except for most Canadian citizens and those entering from visa waiver programme countries.
A refund mechanism, the directive also shows, is outlined for travellers who fully comply with the terms of their visa.
To be eligible for reimbursement, individuals must not engage in unauthorised employment, must avoid extending their stay beyond the visa’s validity, and must leave the country no later than five days after the authorised period expires.
Lawful permanent residents who initially entered the US on a non-immigrant visa are also listed as eligible for the refund, although the bill provides no specific details on how claims would be processed.
The new integrity fee marks a significant cost increase for prospective US visa holders and is expected to have the greatest impact on students and short-term workers.
Its introduction reflects a shift towards tighter immigration controls and increased oversight of temporary visitors.
