US Immigration Fee Increase 2025 Full List of New Visa Charges: The United States has introduced new immigration fees and raised fees for certain existing immigration-related actions for international visitors and immigrants. Here are some key US fee changes implemented so far in 2025. These enhanced fees will apply to foreign visitors arriving at land borders or ports of entry.
Visa Interview Waiver
The Visa Interview Waiver, also known as Dropbox, which eliminates the need for in-person visa interviews at US Embassies and Consulates for eligible individuals, has been updated.
The US has amended the interview waiver list, requiring most non-immigrants to attend in-person immigration interviews. Most applicants under 14 and over 79, who were previously excluded from interviews, must now appear in person unless they are on the Visa Interview Waiver list. Only certain B1/B2 visa holders will be eligible for the Interview Waiver benefit.
H-1B and F-1 student visa holders who previously had a visa that expired less than 12 months before the current application will be ineligible for the Interview Waiver benefit, effective September.
Interview Location Policy
The US Department of State has announced a modification in its interview location policy for immigrant visa applicants. The Department of State is now requiring immigrant visa applicants to interview in the consular district designated for their place of residence, or in their country of nationality if requested, with limited exceptions.
Effective November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center has scheduled immigrant visa applicants in their country of residence or, if requested, country of nationality.
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Fee
The United States has imposed new fees for certain immigrants who were previously barred from paying to apply for permission to work in the country. Any form submitted without the required fees will be rejected by USCIS.
To start working in the US, all foreigners need to have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The fee for filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, is $470 online and $520 in paper form. However, foreigners under asylum, parolee, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) categories were exempted under the rules. From now on, they will have to pay the fees.
Travel to US
US has introduced two new visa fees in addition to the visa processing fee for U.S. visas. Nonimmigrants will be required to pay two additional fees: the Visa Integrity Fee and the fee for Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record.
US has also introduced certain new immigration fees and increased existing fees for certain immigration-related actions of foreign travelers and immigrants.
The immigrants will have to pay fees applicable for the application of CBP Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, a higher fee for travel authorizations via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and for enrollment in the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS).
H-1B Visa Petition Fee
President Trump has signed a proclamation to significantly reform the foreign work permit program, introducing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions effective September 21, 2025. Every US employer hiring a foreign worker must pay a $100,000 H-1B fee to the US government.
However, this $100,000 H-1B fee applies only to new visas, excluding renewals and current visa holders. Also, this is a one-time fee applicable only to the petition, not an annual fee.
Visa Integrity Fee
President Donald Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ signed into law on July 4, 2025, has introduced a mandatory ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ for non-immigrant visa applicants.
The new ‘visa integrity fee’ is to be paid upon the issuance of any non-immigrant visa. This would apply to the issuance of any non-immigrant visa, including, for example, F-1 and F-2 visas, J-1 and J-2 visas, H-1B and H-4 visas, tourist B-1/B-2, etc.