New US Visa Fee May Impact Canadian PRs & Workers

New $250 US Visa Integrity Fee: What It Means for Canadians and PRs

Planning a trip or a move to the U.S.? If you’re a Canadian permanent resident, temporary resident, or even a Canadian citizen applying for a specific U.S. visa, there’s an important update you’ll want to know about. A new $250 USD fee—called the US Visa Integrity Fee—is coming into effect and could impact your future travel or work plans south of the border.

Key Highlights

• The US Visa Integrity Fee is a $250 USD charge for non-immigrant visa applicants.
• Expected to take effect in late 2025, though no exact date is confirmed yet.
• Applies to Canadian permanent residents and temporary residents from non-waiver countries.
• Some Canadian citizens will also be affected, depending on the visa type.
• Visa Waiver Program travellers and most Canadian tourists are exempt.
• Refunds may be possible under specific conditions, but details are pending.

What’s the US Visa Integrity Fee All About?

As part of the new H.R.1 Act—cheekily dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” by the U.S. government—a $250 USD fee will soon be added on top of existing fees for non-immigrant U.S. visas. This fee is intended to help fund U.S. immigration enforcement and is expected to kick in sometime in late 2025.

Now, before you start adjusting your travel plans, let’s break down who actually needs to worry about this fee and in what situations.

Who Will Have to Pay the Fee?

According to the legislation, the new fee applies to any foreign national who is issued a non-immigrant visa for the United States. That includes visa categories like:

• B-1/B-2 (Tourist and Business)
• F and M (Student visas)
• H-1B and H-4 (Temporary work visas and dependents)
• J (Exchange visitor visas)

If you’re a Canadian permanent resident or a temporary foreign worker who holds citizenship from a country that isn’t part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, and you plan to enter the U.S. with a visa, this fee likely applies to you.

Countries affected include China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Brazil, and many more. You’ll need to pay this fee in addition to standard visa application costs.

Need help understanding your immigration status or eligibility? Check out our guide on Canadian PR and citizenship or our temporary foreign worker resources.

When Do Canadian Citizens Need a Non-Immigrant U.S. Visa?

Most Canadian citizens don’t need a visa for short visits to the U.S. for tourism or business. That’s great news, and it means the Visa Integrity Fee won’t apply in most cases.

However, there are some situations where Canadians do need a non-immigrant U.S. visa—and that’s when this fee could come into play. Here are a few examples:

• Applying for work or student visas like H-1B or F-1
• Government or diplomatic travel (A, G, or NATO visas)
• Trade-related visas like E-1 or E-2
• Fiancé(e)s or spouses of U.S. citizens (K-1 to K-4 visas)
• Special categories like S-visas for those assisting U.S. law enforcement

If you’re a Canadian citizen applying for any of these visa types, you’ll need to budget for the extra $250 USD when the fee comes into effect.

Who’s Off the Hook?

Not everyone will need to pay this new fee. If you’re travelling to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program—or you’re a Canadian citizen entering for regular tourism or business—you’re exempt.

The Visa Waiver Program includes countries like:

• United Kingdom
• France
• Germany
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• And many more

Interestingly, Canada isn’t on the waiver program list—because we don’t need to be. Canadian citizens don’t require an ESTA or a visa for most short-term travel to the U.S., so this new fee won’t apply in those typical tourist situations.

Can the Fee Be Refunded?

Here’s where things get a bit more complicated. The legislation specifically notes that the Visa Integrity Fee can’t be waived or reduced. That said, there is a path for a possible refund—if you meet some strict conditions.

You may be eligible for a refund if you:

• Follow all terms of your visa (no unauthorized work, for example)
• Leave the U.S. within five days after your visa expires, without applying for an extension
• Transition to a green card (permanent residency) while already in the U.S.

Even if you meet those criteria, you’ll still need to apply for the refund through the Department of Homeland Security. Unfortunately, exact details about how the refund process will work—and when it will be available—haven’t been released yet.

Oh, and one more thing—the fee amount will be adjusted annually for inflation, so it could go up over time.

Final Thoughts

The new US Visa Integrity Fee is something to keep in mind if you’re planning to study, work, or join family in the United States. While most Canadians won’t be affected for regular travel, those applying for specific non-immigrant visas should be prepared for this added cost starting in late 2025.

Whether you’re a permanent resident planning a cross-border job opportunity or a student looking to study in the U.S., staying on top of immigration changes is key.

Need help figuring out your Canadian immigration options instead? Check out our tool to calculate your Manitoba PNP points and see where you stand today.

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