Indian Travelers Face Steep US Visa Fee Increase: From INR 16,000 to INR 40,000

If there's one visa that holds great value for Indian passport holders, it's the US visa. Not only does it allow you to travel to the United States, but it also opens the doors to several other countries with visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival options. However, if you’re an Indian traveler looking to visit the US soon, there’s some unfortunate news. Due to the 'Big Beautiful Bill' signed by US President Donald Trump on July 4, a new 'Visa Integrity Fee' of $250 will be applied to most non-immigrant visa categories. As a result, Indian applicants intending to travel to the US for tourism, education, or work will see a significant increase in visa fees starting in 2026. A typical tourist visa, which previously cost less than INR 16,000, may now rise to over INR 40,000.

The US Visa Integrity Fee is a new non-refundable surcharge of $250 (approximately Rs 21,400) that will be added to existing visa fees. This fee will be required when visas are issued and is set to take effect in 2026, with annual adjustments based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The fee applies to most non-immigrant visa categories, such as B-1/B-2 (for tourists and business visits), F and M (for students), H-1B (for employment), and J (for exchange visitors). The only exceptions are holders of diplomatic visas in the A and G categories. For Indian travelers, this means that students, technology professionals, tourists, and business travelers heading to the US will all be affected by this extra charge.

US Visa Fee Can Be Refunded Under Certain Conditions

Currently, the B-1/B-2 visa for the U.S. costs $185 (over Rs 15,800). With the new Visa Integrity Fee and other charges like the I-94 fee ($24) and ESTA fee ($13), the total cost rises to about $472 (around Rs 40,502). This is more than 2.5 times the old visa fee, affecting students and H-1B applicants as well.

The Visa Integrity Fee is fixed and cannot be reduced, but refunds might be possible under certain conditions. Visa holders can get a refund if they follow all visa rules, like leaving the U.S. within five days after their visa expires or legally extending their stay. Anyone who overstays will not be eligible for a refund.

This fee is added to improve security and encourage compliance among foreign visitors, acting as a motivation for lawful behavior.