US Tourist Visa Fee to Increase to $472 – Approx. ₹40,000 Starting January 2026

Starting in 2026, Indians applying for US non-immigrant visas—including tourist (B-1/B-2), student (F/M), work (H-1B), and exchange (J) visas—will face a significant increase in application fees due to a new $250 “Visa Integrity Fee”. This change is part of the US “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law on July 4, 2025.

Key Details:

Total estimated fee for Indian applicants: Around ₹40,000 (approximately $472 at current rates). This total includes:

$250 Integrity Fee

$185 standard visa application fee

$24 I-94 arrival/departure fee

$13 ESTA or other category-specific costs

Who is affected: All non-immigrant visa applicants except those in diplomatic (A and G) categories.

Why the fee? The US government states the fee aims to ensure compliance with visa terms—such as departing the US on time—and to cover costs related to securing the visa system.

Refund policy: The Visa Integrity Fee can be refunded only if the visa holder leaves the US within five days of their visa expiry and does not overstay, extend, or change their status. For most students and professionals, this could mean the fee remains “locked” for years.

Inflation adjustment: The fee will be adjusted annually for inflation.

Advice for applicants: You can avoid the fee hike by applying for your visa and paying the fee before 2026. The fee is determined by the application payment date, not the travel date.

Impact: The jump from about ₹16,000 to ₹40,000—roughly 2.5 times the old rate—will especially affect Indian students, travelers, and tech professionals, as well as the companies that rely on moving employees to the US