NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyans planning to travel to the United States will soon face a significant hike in visa costs, following the introduction of a new $250 (approx. Sh32,250) “visa integrity fee” under a recently enacted U.S. domestic policy law.
The fee, embedded in the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will apply to all classes of non-immigrant visas — including tourist and business (B1/B2), student (F1), exchange visitor (J1), and work-related visas such as H-1B, L-1, O-1 and their dependents.
Currently, Kenyans pay about Sh23,865 ($185) for B1/B2, F, and J visas, while petition-based worker visas such as H and L cost Sh26,445 ($205).
With the new levy in place, student visa applicants will pay over Sh56,000, while work visa fees could surpass Sh58,000.
According to The National Law Review, the integrity fee will be charged per applicant — including dependents — meaning families traveling together will each pay the additional cost.
However, the fee differs from standard application charges in one key way: it will only be payable upon visa issuance.
Applicants whose visas are denied will not be charged the extra $250. This contrasts with the current Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee, which is non-refundable and paid before the consular interview.
The new law also grants the U.S. Department of Homeland Security authority to increase the fee in future rule-making, and beginning in 2026, the amount will be indexed to inflation.
Travellers from Visa Waiver Programme countries — which exclude Kenya and most African nations — will not be affected, making the fee particularly burdensome for applicants from the region.
While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to confirm the effective date or provide implementation details, multiple reports suggest the fee could come into force as early as October 2025.
This development comes amid broader U.S. immigration and policy shifts affecting African travellers, including new visa restrictions, remittance taxes, and ongoing debates around bilateral relations and mobility.
