The idea is that this $250 acts like a compliance bond. If a visitor departs the U.S. on time or legally changes their status (for example, switching to a work or student visa making arrangements in a timely manner) then the rebate should be available. However, the refund process remains unclear, and immigration lawyers warn it could involve months of paperwork, delays, or even denials if technicalities aren’t followed.
If you’re helping a family member plan a visit—perhaps to attend a wedding, meet a newborn, or explore university options—you should know they will have to pay the new Visa Integrity fee upfront, along with their visa application. They may never see that money again, depending on how the refund rules are implemented. If they breach any visa condition—even accidentally—they forfeit the refund. That results in higher financial risk and extra paperwork for otherwise simple visits.
This doesn’t apply to countries in the US visa waiver program, which is basically
. It’s a non-US aligned tax.However, the refund process remains unclear, and immigration lawyers warn it could involve months of paperwork, delays, or even denials if technicalities aren’t followed.
the landlordification of tourism
lol absolutely crushing it*
(*the american tourism industry)
in the stripped club. straight up “destroying it”. and by “it”, haha, well let’s justr say.
The US is just 50 different scams hiding under a trenchcoat
Each state is its own pyramid scheme.
Scams all the way down. Or up. The US is just a scam Ouroboros.
A snake eating its own ass as Hakim said.
I read that comment in his voice
Mark my words: they’re going to use the money they collect to do the same that supermarkets do. Supermarkets try their best to pay suppliers after like 6 months after they’ve sold their stock, and in the meantime they use that money to gamble on the stock market, making more money out of the supplier’s money.
The US gov is going to try to do this but because they’re incompetent buffoons they’re going to dump it all on raw milk futures or some crypto scam, and lose it all.
Didnt know that, I thought supermarkets paid for products up front from wholesale like smaller stores
Supermarkets tend to have a quite concentrated sector and a lot of buying power, so they can easily crush suppliers
US visa already costs a minimum of 185 dollars and depending on the type there are additional charges up to like 500 dollars, let alone the cost of travel if you have to be interviewed in person in their embassy. now you have to put a 250 dollar deposit upon sending your application? what if you get denied or refused entry? a typical visa application can be in clearance for months what happens to your money in that time? what about adminstrative error?
at this point if your country doesn’t have a visa agreement with the US you can just forget about it.
That will be a $250 visa fee, plus tip :^)
with 20% being the lowest option on the screen
Making the US visa program have a cover charge like it’s some shitty night club EDM show is extremely on brand.
That’s so amusing I can’t find a way to start my comment about it. Let’s say it’s just what it is.
