New Delhi, July 10 -- The United States has introduced a new $250 "Visa Integrity Fee" for non-immigrant visa applicants under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4.

The Visa Integrity Fee is like a security deposit and is non-waivable and is part of a broader push to tighten immigration enforcement and ensure compliance with US visa regulations. It will reportedly be collected by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the time of issuing the visa.

The mandatory fee applies to nearly all non-immigrant visa categories, including B-1/B-2 (tourist/business), F and M (students), H-1B (workers), and J (exchange visitors), and will be charged in addition to existing visa fees.

Only diplomat...