USA: ESTA costs $40 – plus a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” for work and study visas
· · Visa & Relocation Agentur
Since 1 October 2025 US entry has become more expensive: ESTA $40 instead of $21, plus a new $250 fee for most non-immigrant visas.
Key facts
ESTA: $40 since 1 October 2025 (previously $21); valid 2 years, apply only via esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Visa Integrity Fee: $250 on top of the visa fee (e.g. B1/B2 $185) – for work, study, exchange and visitor visas.
Not affected: ESTA travellers (Visa Waiver) and diplomatic visas.
The fee is charged when the visa is issued; a refund is provided for in the law but not yet implemented.
Waiting times for B1/B2 appointments in Germany remain several months.
Who pays what
Germans, Poles, Czechs, Lithuanians and citizens of other Visa Waiver countries keep travelling on ESTA – now for $40. Those who need a visa (Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians, Turks, and anyone whose ESTA was refused or who comes to work/study) pay the consular fee plus the $250 Visa Integrity Fee.
Background
The Visa Integrity Fee was introduced by the US budget law of July 2025 and is to be adjusted for inflation annually. It is designed as a deposit: those who comply with visa conditions and leave on time are meant to get it back – no procedure for this exists yet.
Our advice
Apply for ESTA only via the official site (many intermediaries charge $70–100). If a visa is required, budget the full cost: $185 + $250 + SEVIS where applicable. We check in advance whether ESTA is possible at all – e.g. after past stays in Cuba or with dual nationality.
FAQ
Do ESTA travellers pay the $250?
No. The Visa Integrity Fee applies to visas only, not to the ESTA electronic authorisation.
Will I get the $250 back?
The law provides for a refund after compliant departure, but no application procedure exists yet. Budget the amount as a cost.