The Passage of the Big Beautiful Bill: New Visa Fees and Heightened Immigration Enforcement on the Horizon

Marina S. Grabchuk | Julie Solis-Alvarado | Mariah L. Sukalski

July 09, 2025 | Immigration | Labor and Employment

With the recent passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” major changes are coming to the U.S. immigration landscape. Employers, visa applicants, and stakeholders in immigration processes should be aware that the new legislation signals a significant shift in both the financial obligations of foreign nationals, sponsoring U.S. based employers, and the government’s approach to enforcement.

New Visa Fees for Travelers and Employers

One of the key provisions of the bill is the introduction of new immigration-related fees. These costs will affect both individuals traveling to the United States and employers seeking to bring in global talent. Notably, the legislation introduces a new $250 “visa integrity fee” per application. This fee cannot be waived, although it is reimbursable if the visa holder complies with all visa conditions and either departs the U.S. on time, obtains a timely extension of stay, or adjusts status appropriately.

Other new or updated fees include:

Fee Type	Fee Amount	Waiver Available?	Additional Information
Visa Integrity Fee	$250	No	Reimbursable upon full compliance and timely departure or status adjustment
I-94 Fee	$24	No	Applies to admission processing
ESTA Fee	$13	No	Applies to travelers under the Visa Waiver Program
EVUS Fee	$30	No	Required for certain Chinese nationals on 10-year B-1/B-2 visas

** Note: After FY 2025, fees will be adjusted annually for inflation. Additionally, DHS is authorized to establish by regulation a higher fee than that specified in the legislation.

Enforcement Funding Reaches Record Levels

The bill also appropriates unprecedented funding for immigration enforcement, totaling more than $150 billion across multiple agencies and initiatives. Among the most notable allocations:

• $46.55 billion for border infrastructure, including continued construction of physical barriers;
• $45 billion for expanding immigration detention capacity;
• $29.85 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to support hiring, training, and operations;
• $6.168 billion for inspection technologies and related equipment;
• $4.1 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel, plus significant investments in facilities, vehicles, and bonuses.

Increased Worksite Inspections Expected

These historic enforcement appropriations will have tangible impacts for U.S. employers. In particular, the bill’s funding structure signals a likely increase in worksite inspections, Form I-9 audits, and other compliance reviews conducted by federal authorities. Companies should anticipate heightened scrutiny of their immigration practices and prepare for audits by reviewing current compliance programs, policies, and procedures.

Impacts on Humanitarian Programs and Processing Times

The bill also imposes new fees on individuals who rely on humanitarian immigration programs, such as asylum and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). These individuals will face higher application costs and more frequent renewals for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), which may cause a spike in application volume. This surge could place additional strain on USCIS and potentially lead to processing delays across multiple case types.

Concerned with how this new legislation could potentially affect you or your business?

Belin attorneys are here to answer all immigration and compliance questions. Our attorneys can assist with audits, trainings, and preparation for the above compliance expectations. 

Save the Date: Employment-Based Immigration and Workplace Compliance Under Trump 2.0 | Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 1:00 pm CT - contact Stephanie at sanderson@belinmccormick.com for more information.

Learn More: Read about our Immigration Law department and contact an attorney here.

 

Article researched and written with the assistance of Belin Paralegal Intern, Esha Bolar.