President Donald Trump signs his signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts at the White House, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Washington, surrounded by members of Congress. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
By KEILE CAMPBELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIANS applying for United States visas face significantly higher fees under sweeping new immigration legislation signed into law by US President Donald Trump on July 4.
The legislation, titled the One Big Beautiful Bill, introduces a mandatory $250 “visa integrity fee” on all temporary visa applications, including those for tourism, study, and business. This new fee will be added on top of existing visa processing charges, sharply increasing the overall cost for applicants.
Currently, a standard US tourist or student visa application (B‑1/B‑2, F, J, or M) costs $185. For students and exchange visitors, additional SEVIS fees of $350 or $220, respectively, also apply. Petition-based visas — such as work or cultural exchange programs (H, L, O, P, Q, R) — carry a $205 fee, while E‑class investor visas cost $315.
The K-visa for fiancés or spouses is priced at $265. The $250 integrity fee will be assessed in addition to these baseline charges, pushing the total cost for a simple tourist visa to $435, or more for other visa categories.
Applicants must pay the $250 visa integrity fee at the time of visa issuance. Refunds will only be granted under strict compliance, such as departing the US within five days of visa expiration.
Immigration advocates in the US have described the bill as one of the most financially restrictive immigration frameworks in modern history, warning that it effectively prices out vulnerable populations from seeking lawful entry.
The law further establishes a range of fee hikes across the US immigration system, including a $1,000 asylum application fee, a $550 work permit fee, and a $1,500 charge to adjust immigration status to lawful permanent residency.
Comments
bahamianson 4 months, 4 weeks ago
I guess this balance out with the foreign boaters complaining about the crazy , hiked up boating fees imposed by the Bahamas government. I see the work permit is about $550 . What does it cost a company in the Bahamas to pay for a work permit? I can’t imagine it is $550 . It has to be more than twice that amount.
birdiestrachan 4 months, 4 weeks ago
What does Mr Neil and Peter Maury have to say about this. Them and some of the Boat owners I guess it is all right with them because of who is charging the fees
ted4bz 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Except you miss most of what this is about
SP 4 months, 4 weeks ago
This sure makes Canada and Panama look a whole lot more attractive!
LastManStanding 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Yeah it sucks but I mean usually it's a 10 year visa anyways so it's not like it's a frequent thing to deal with.
ted4bz 4 months, 3 weeks ago
One thing for sure, they can always depend on people like you to defend them and make excuses for them
bahamianson 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Or people like you to criticize everything that is done without being practical
bahamianson 4 months, 3 weeks ago
It goes both ways, leaving politics and emotion out of it.
LastManStanding 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Lmao, you have no idea who I am or what I believe. The fact is ultimately its the US government's right to raise their fees just like it's our right to raise ours where needed. Again, if you do get the max 10 years it's not like it will be a frequent thing to deal with.
ExposedU2C 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Not 10 years anymore.....maximum 3 years for B1 & B2 visas.
LastManStanding 4 months, 3 weeks ago
It's been some years but the last time I went through the process I got 10 and I recently had family members go through the process and get 10 albeit that was right before the election so it's possible they are giving out shorter terms under Trunk in which case it does become more onerous.
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