July 22, 2025
New $250 U.S. Visa Integrity Fee May Affect Canadians and Residents in Canada by Late 2025
If you’re planning to travel to the United States on a non-immigrant visa, a new fee may soon apply to you. As part of the recently passed H.R.1 Act (informally called the “One Big Beautiful Bill” by the U.S. administration), an additional $250 USD Visa Integrity Fee will be introduced for many applicants — including Canadian permanent residents, foreign nationals in Canada, and even some Canadian citizens.
Although an exact implementation date hasn’t been announced, the new fee is expected to take effect in late 2025.
Who Will Have to Pay the U.S. Visa Integrity Fee?
According to the new legislation, the $250 fee will apply to any foreign national (“alien”) issued a non-immigrant visa at the time of issuance.
This includes individuals applying for:
- Visitor visas (B-1 for business, B-2 for tourism)
- Student visas (F and M)
- Work visas (H-1B, H-4)
- Exchange program visas (J)
- And several other categories
Applicants from non-visa waiver countries — such as India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Brazil — will be directly affected by this fee.
That means Canadian permanent residents and temporary residents who hold citizenship from these countries and require a U.S. visa will be required to pay the additional $250 — on top of existing U.S. visa fees.
Will Canadian Citizens Be Affected?
Generally, Canadian citizens are exempt from needing non-immigrant visas to enter the United States for business or tourism. However, there are exceptions.
This new fee will apply to Canadian citizens only when they are applying for specific types of U.S. non-immigrant visas, including:
- Work visas (e.g., H-1B, H-4)
- Student visas (e.g., F-1, M-1)
- Fiancé(e) visas (K-1 and K-2)
- Spousal and dependent visas (K-3 and K-4)
- Treaty trader or investor visas (E-1 and E-2)
- Government or diplomatic travel visas (A, G, NATO categories)
- Special visa categories (e.g., S-5, S-6, S-7 for individuals cooperating with U.S. law enforcement)
So, while most Canadian citizens traveling for short visits are unaffected, those applying for longer-term or specialized visas will need to budget for this new fee.
⚠️ Key Takeaways
- A $250 U.S. Visa Integrity Fee is coming in late 2025
- It will apply to non-immigrant visa applicants
- Canadian permanent residents and foreign nationals in Canada from non-waiver countries will be affected
- Some Canadian citizens applying for specific visa types will also be required to pay
✈️ Planning to Travel or Work in the U.S.?
This change adds a new financial consideration for individuals seeking U.S. non-immigrant visas. If you’re unsure whether this applies to your situation — or you’re preparing for a U.S. visa application from Canada — we recommend speaking to an immigration professional.
📲 Need help understanding how this may impact you or your family?
Contact us today for up-to-date immigration guidance and support with your cross-border plans.