The United States has introduced a mandatory $250 visa integrity fee for non-immigrant travellers, warning that there would be no room for waivers.

The new visa integrity fee is contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act recently passed by the Donald Trump administration.

According to the bill, the secretary of homeland security is also permitted to set the fee higher.

“Travellers may get a reimbursement if they comply with all the conditions of their visas. These include not accepting unauthorised employment, not seeking to extend their validated stay, and departing the US not later than five days after the last day of such period,” the bill read.

“Visitors who are granted the status of a lawful permanent resident are also qualified for a refund. However, there are no details about the procedures for such a claim.”

The bill also stated that the fee would be paid when the visa is issued, which implies that potential non-immigrants whose visa requests are denied will not be charged.