New $250 U.S. Visa Integrity Fee: What Canadian Residents and Foreign Workers Need to Know

If you’re a Canadian permanent resident, a foreign worker in Canada, or even a Canadian citizen applying for certain U.S. visas, you might soon have to pay an extra $250 USD fee — and it’s called the U.S. Visa Integrity Fee.

This new fee is part of the H.R.1 Act, also known informally as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law on July 4, 2025. While the U.S. government hasn’t set an official date yet, the new fee is expected to take effect sometime in late 2025.

So who exactly needs to pay this fee? Let’s break it down.

💸 Who Has to Pay the $250 Visa Integrity Fee?

According to the new law, any foreign national (“alien”) who is issued a non-immigrant visa will be required to pay this fee at the time of visa issuance.

This includes many types of U.S. visas like:

• B-1/B-2 (tourist or business)

• F/M (students)

• H-1B/H-4 (work)

• J (exchange programs)

If you’re from a country that requires a visa to enter the U.S., you’ll have to pay this fee in addition to all other standard visa fees.

This applies to citizens of countries like:

India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Brazil, and many more.

That means Canadian permanent residents or foreign nationals living in Canada who hold passports from these countries will also have to pay this new fee.

What About Canadian Citizens?

Normally, Canadian citizens don’t need a visa to enter the U.S. for things like travel or business — so they’re exempt from this fee in most cases.

However, if a Canadian citizen applies for a non-immigrant U.S. visa, they will be required to pay the $250 Visa Integrity Fee.

This could apply if you’re applying for visas such as:

• H-1B or F-1 (for work or study)

• A, G, or NATO (for government or diplomatic missions)

• E-1 or E-2 (for treaty traders/investors)

• K-1/K-2/K-3/K-4 (fiancé(e)s, spouses, and children of U.S. citizens)

• S visas (for those helping U.S. law enforcement or intelligence)

So while most casual travelers won’t be affected, Canadian citizens applying for specific visa types will be.

Who Doesn’t Need to Pay?

If you don’t need a visa to enter the U.S., then you don’t need to pay this fee.

That includes:

• Citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries like the UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

• Canadian citizens traveling without a visa (e.g., short trips for tourism or business).

Even though Canada is not part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, its citizens don’t need a visa or ESTA, which keeps them out of this new fee — unless they apply for certain non-immigrant visas.

Is the Fee Refundable?

Not automatically — but yes, potentially.

The law says the fee:

• Cannot be waived or reduced at the time of payment.

• May be refunded later under certain conditions, like:

  • You followed all the visa rules and didn’t overstay.

  • You left the U.S. within 5 days of your visa expiration.

  • You adjusted your status to permanent residency inside the U.S.

Even if you qualify, you’d still have to apply for a refund through the Department of Homeland Security, and so far the government hasn’t released how or when this process will work.

Also, keep in mind: the fee is linked to inflation, so it could increase every year.

Final Thoughts

This new Visa Integrity Fee is one more cost to plan for if you’re planning to work, study, or live in the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa.

If you’re a Canadian permanent resident or foreign worker, it’s important to understand whether this fee applies to you, and to budget for it in future travel or visa plans.

Stay tuned for updates from the U.S. government on when the fee will officially start and how to request a refund if you qualify.

If you need help, Book a consultation now!

New $250 U.S. Visa Integrity Fee: What Canadian Residents and Foreign Workers Need to Know