Extended US stays are about to get pricier, thanks to a new fee aimed at long-term visitors

Planning to spend more than 90 days in the United States? British travellers should brace themselves for an additional cost. A new visa charge is on the way, and it's set to impact those heading to the US for work, study, or extended travel.

Up until now, navigating the US visa process was already a bit of a maze—determining which visa applies, filling out forms online, scheduling interviews at the embassy, and paying the existing application fees. Now, an additional cost is being tacked on to that list.

Say Hello to the "Visa Integrity Fee"

This new fee originates from the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act—yes, that is its official title—enacted under Donald Trump's direction. A specific section of the act (Section 10007) requires an extra charge to be paid at the time a non-immigrant visa is issued. The US Secretary of Homeland Security will be responsible for collecting it.

Who Will Be Affected by This?

The fee applies to all non-immigrant visa applicants, including tourists, students, and temporary workers, many of whom are from the UK. If your visit to the US exceeds three months and you're applying for a visa to work or study, you're part of the affected group.

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What Exactly Is the Fee, and Can You Get It Back?

The visa integrity fee will cost $250, or about £185.80 at the current exchange rate. This is in addition to any existing application fees. The US government has indicated that the cost can be refunded, but only if you adhere strictly to the terms of your visa. That means no illegal employment and no overstaying your visa by more than five days.

However, specifics about how to make the payment or how the refund process will work are still unclear. Those details haven't yet been finalized or released.

When Is the Fee Going Live?

There's no official launch date yet, but it's expected to be implemented by the end of the US fiscal year, on September 30, 2025. Travellers planning long-term visits after this date should budget accordingly.

Do You Even Need a Visa for Short Trips?

If your US trip is under 90 days, you're in the clear—for now. Brits can still travel using an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), which costs £15.60 and is valid for two years. But that cost might soon see a hike too. Under the same legislative bill, the price of the ESTA is expected to double to £29.30.

For more extended stays—those beyond the 90-day mark—you'll need to apply for a non-immigrant visa. And if you're looking to live and work in the United States permanently, you'll need to go through the entire immigration visa process. A comprehensive list of visa types and categories is available on the US government's official website.