U.S. Announces Post-Interview Fee for Visa Applicants Entering the Country
The U.S. State Department has introduced a new $750 expedited interview fee for eligible B-1 and B-2 visa applicants at participating embassies and consulates. The optional payment can provide access to an earlier interview appointment, potentially within 10 business days, but it does not guarantee visa approval.
Most of the visa fees may be paid prior to a candidate sitting for the interview. This one is for backwards counting. It is charged only after a visa is granted and therefore, applicants who pay it are de facto those who got through.
That is the format of the new Visa Integrity Fee, which is now added for U.S. embassies and consulates overseas. This measure has been awaiting implementation for more than a year and finally has begun to trickle down to applicants.
That's why confusion about rollout has died down, at least partly because of an uneven performance, ultimately, it remains.
What The Visa Integrity Fees Actually Is?
The fee was established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was passed on July 4, 2025. It applies to almost all nonimmigrant visas, including tourists, students and those who come into this country on temporary work visas, such as B-1/B-2, F-1, J-1, H-1B.
It does not have any payment structure that differs from other visa costs. Standard application fee, called MRV fee is paid prior to an interview and not refunded if the visa is refused.
With Visa Integrity Fee, there is a different process, it is uploaded or paid at the embassy or consulate, after it is approved. Where the visas have been denied to the applicants, there is no obligation for them to pay a visa.
Who Pays It and Who Doesn't?
The charge is paid by a broad spectrum of travellers. It is generally applicable to everyone who wishes to seek a nonimmigrant visa, including any dependents of the lawful nonimmigrant visa holder. For one family of four, they might pay $1,000 in integrity fees alone, in addition to standard processing fees.
The person doesn't pay the Visa Waiver Program fee because they traverse the Visa Waiver Program, which is not the method through which a visa is granted. The fee is also waived for temporary nonimmigrant visas and for those waiting for an immigrant visa or green card.
Those who follow the rules of the visa (and do not overstay, work illegally, etc.) could receive the $250 when the time runs out. It's not been determined how that refund will be processed.
Why Was the Rollout Confusing?
More than a year before most of the applicants began to see it being charged, the fee became law. Although a July 2025 Federal Register notice noted it was necessary for DHS to coordinate the fee with the State Department before implementation, it did not provide a definite date.
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The fee is being introduced by some embassies in addition to the regular MRV fee. Others have yet to get the payment and tracking process in place to get the money.
Candidates are reminded to check with the appropriate consular services to make sure that the fee will apply or not to the specific consular services post before an interview.
What Applicants and Employers Should Expect?
As far as an individual traveller is concerned, it comes when they get a visa issued, not while they are applying. Costs of planning for a U.S. visa now include upfront payment of the MRV fee as well as a $250 fee per person if you are approved.
The number of new visa stamps issued for employees and accompanying family members at each consular post is difficult to predict. This makes it a challenging cost to include in relocation and onboarding budget.
The big question is, which consulates will collect it, what the process of refunds will look like and how much the CPI adjustment will raise the lower floor of it in years to come.
A Fee Build Around Success, Not Applications
The majority of government fees are not refundable based on a forfeiture principle. This is the opposite scenario, this only works for people who passed the bar, not people who took the bar and were denied admission.
This design can easily be explained on a sheet of paper as fair. In reality, this will create two different damp-soddened experiences for two applicants with the same visa approvals from two different consulates this year.
The information on this page is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Always consult a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative before making any immigration decisions.
Last Updated: [August 2026] — This article reflects information available as of [August 2026]. Policies may have changed. Check USCIS.gov for the most current guidance.
