The Cost Of A Visa To The United States Has Increased, With An Additional Integrity Fee Of 4 Million Rupiah

The United States government has implemented the Integrity Fee visa policy, also known as the visa Integrity Fee. This fee is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a new law signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025. As a result of the Integrity Fee visa policy, tourists wishing to vacation in the United States will incur an additional fee of $250 (approximately Rp 4 million), in addition to the visa costs and other immigration fees. In total, there will be an increase in the visa fees that tourists must pay. According to CNBC, this additional fee will take effect in the U.S. fiscal year 2025, which runs from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. Subsequently, the amount will be adjusted for inflation. Meanwhile, as reported by ABC News, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act grants the U.S. Department of the Interior the authority to determine the amount of fees imposed on foreign tourists wishing to enter the United States.

This fee is mandatory for all non-immigrant visa applicants, including tourists (B visa), foreign students (F visa), and temporary workers such as H-1B visa holders. However, those whose visa applications are denied will not be subject to the Integrity Fee. The payment of this fee is required only after the visitor visa to the United States has been approved. It is important to note that the Integrity Fee does not replace any other existing visa application fees. This means that visa applicants will be required to pay the regular visa fee in addition to the Integrity Fee once their visa application is accepted.

For instance, foreign workers holding H-1B visas who previously paid 205 USD are now required to pay a total of 455 USD. This amount does not include the I-94 fee, which under the new regulations has also increased from 6 to 24 USD. "The Visa Integrity Fee is an additional charge on top of the regular fees. Therefore, the total amount that applicants must pay could rise significantly," explained Steven A. Brown, a partner at the immigration law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC in Houston. Immigration experts predict that this fee will have a substantial impact on B visa holders, including travelers and businesspeople, as well as foreign students. "They may think twice about coming if they have to add 250 USD per person to their travel budget," said Brown.

This policy comes at a time when the U.S. is preparing to host various major events, such as the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence (America 250) and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On the other hand, U.S. tourism promotion is also under pressure as funding for Brand USA—the agency responsible for promoting U.S. destinations—has been cut from 100 million USD to only 20 million USD.

Tag: Donald Trump United States