A blog about U.S. immigration matters by Paul Szeto, a former INS attorney and an experienced immigration lawyer. We serve clients in all U.S. states and overseas countries. (All information is not legal advice and is subject to change without prior notice.)

Contact: 732-632-9888, http://www.1visa1.com/

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Applying for a U.S. Visa is getting Expensive

 




If you plan to visit America, expect to pay higher fees. Additionally, applicants from certain countries may have to post a visa bond of up to $15,000 in order to secure a visa.

In a move that has reignited debate over U.S. visa policy, the U.S. Department of State has announced a 12-month visa bond pilot program targeting certain B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visa applicants. Scheduled to begin on August 20, 2025, the program authorizes U.S. consular officers to require visa applicants from certain countries to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance.

Pilot Program - Visa Bond

Beginning August 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will launch a 12-month pilot program requiring certain applicants for B‑1 (business) and B‑2 (tourist) visas to post a bond—ranging from $5,000 to $15,000—as a condition of visa issuance. Bonds are refundable if applicants comply with their visa terms and depart on time; otherwise, the bond is forfeited.
Who must post the visa bond?

According to the U.S. government, countries with high U.S. visa overstay rates based on FY 2023 DHS data and deficient document screening or vetting practices are targeted. Further, countries that offer citizenship-by-investment programs with no residency requirement are also likely targeted by the State Department. Applicants from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries are exempt.

The State Department is supposed to announce the specific list of countries on their website. As of August 5, 2025, the State Department website only lists two countries that are subject to the visa bond - Malawi and Zambia. However, additional countries are expected to be added to the list later on.


Visa Integrity Fee

Additionally, starting October 1st, 2025, nonimmigrant visa applicants must pay a visa integrity fee of $250, on top of the regular visa application fee. This new fee was enacted by President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill on July 4, 2025.
The $250 visa integrity fee must be paid by applicants of most nonimmigrant visas, such as tourists (B1/B2), students (F/M), exchange visitors (J), workers (H1B, L1, O1, R1, etc.). Each dependent with a separate visa stamp (e.g., H‑4, F‑2, J‑2) must also pay the fee. So a family of four would have to pay $1,000 in integrity fees alone.

Visitors from 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) (e.g. United Kingdom, Japan, Germany) who enter via ESTA are exempt from the new visa integrity fee. However, their ESTA fee will increase from $21 to $40. Canadians are also exempt as they are allowed to enter the United States visa-free.

The integrity visa fee is supposed to be refundable if the applicant abides by the rules and does not work illegally. However, actually getting a refund is expected to be difficult due to administrative and procedural hurdles.
 

Thursday, July 31, 2025

July 2025 Visa Bulletin: F2A Advances Globally

 


In  July, F2A priority date advanced by eight months globally. F-2B dates also moved forward, with Mexico advancing by one year. 

For Employment-Based , China EB-2 advanced by two weeks, and EB-3 by nine days. India EB-3 advances by 7 days. 

USCIS will continue to accept Family-Based I-485 applications based on filing dates and Employment-Based I-485 applications based on final action dates.


AD: Dates for Final Action (Green Card Approval)  

FD: Dates for Filing Applications Only

Family-based

Other Countries

China

India

Mexico

Philippines

F1

AD

07/15/2016

07/15/2016

07/15/2016

04/22/2005

07/15/2012

FD

09/01/2017

09/01/2017

09/01/2017

06/01/2006

04/22/2015

F2A

AD

09/01/2022

09/01/2022

09/01/2022

02/01/2022

09/01/2022

FD

03/01/2025

03/01/2025

03/01/2025

03/01/2025

03/01/2025

F2B

AD

10/15/2016

10/15/2016

10/15/2016

01/01/2007

 04/15/2012

FD

01/01/2017

01/01/2017

01/01/2017

04/01/2008

10/01/2013

F3

AD

 08/01/2011

08/01/2011

08/01/2011

02/01/2001

12/01/2003

FD

07/22/2012

07/22/2012

07/22/2012

06/15/2001

12/01/2004

F4

AD

01/01/2008

01/01/2008

07/08/2006

03/15/2001

01/01/200    6

FD

09/08/2008

09/08/2008

12/01/2006

04/30/2001

01/01/2008


1st: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year).
2A: The 2 “A” preference is for Spouses and Children (under 21 & unmarried) of LPR's.
2B: The 2 “B” Preference is for Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or older) of LPR's.
3rd: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year)
4th: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens. (about 65,000 per year)


Employment-Based

Other Countries

China

India

Mexico

Philippines

EB-1

AD

C

11/15/2022

 02/15/2022

C

C

FD

C

01/01/2023

04/15/2022

C

C

EB-2

AD

10/15/2023

12/15/2020

01/01/2013

10/15/2023

10/15/2023

FD

11/15/2023

01/01/2021

02/01/2013

11/15/2023

11/15/2023

EB-3

AD

04/01/2023

12/01/2020

04/22/2013

04/01/2023

02/08/2023

FD

05/01/2023

12/22/2020

06/08/2013

05/01/2023

05/01/2023

Other Workers

AD

07/08/2021

05/01/2017

04/22/2013

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

FD

07/22/2021

01/01/2018

06/08/2013

07/22/2021

07/22/2021

EB-4*

AD

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

FD

02/01/2021

02/01/2021

02/01/2021

  02/01/2021

02/01/2021

EB-5

AD

C

01/22/2014

05/01/2019

C

C

FD

C

10/01/2016

04/01/2022

C

C


1st: Priority Workers (Extraordinary ability aliens, multinational companies' executives/managers, outstanding prof./researchers)
2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.
3rd: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers (Unskilled.)
4th: “Special Immigrants” (Religious & others)
*Visa numbers for Certain Religious Workers will be "Unavailable" in July.
5th: Employment Creation (Investors)
*China and India EB-5 visa numbers for rural, high unemployment & infrastructure areas/projects are current.

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)  

August 2025 Visa Bulletin: EB-5 India and China Advance

 

In August, EB-2 cutoff dates remain the same for China and India, while the rest of the world retrogresses by 1.5 months. EB-5 India advances by over 6 months, and EB-5 China advances by 685 days.  

The State Department expects that, due to continued high demand for visa numbers, priority dates for EB-2, EB-3, and other worker categories from some countries may retrogress in September.

USCIS will continue to honor filing dates for Family-based adjustment applications, and final action dates for Employment-based applications. 


AD: Dates for Final Action (Green Card Approval)  

FD: Dates for Filing Applications Only

Family-based

Other Countries

China

India

Mexico

Philippines

F1

AD

07/15/2016

07/15/2016

07/15/2016

04/22/2005

07/15/2012

FD

09/01/2017

09/01/2017

09/01/2017

06/01/2006

04/22/2015

F2A

AD

09/01/2022

09/01/2022

09/01/2022

02/01/2022

09/01/2022

FD

04/01/2025

04/01/2025

04/01/2025

04/01/2025

04/01/2025

F2B

AD

10/15/2016

10/15/2016

10/15/2016

01/01/2007

 04/15/2012

FD

01/01/2017

01/01/2017

01/01/2017

04/01/2008

10/01/2013

F3

AD

 08/01/2011

08/01/2011

08/01/2011

02/01/2001

12/01/2003

FD

07/22/2012

07/22/2012

07/22/2012

06/15/2001

12/01/2004

F4

AD

01/01/2008

01/01/2008

11/01/2006

03/15/2001

01/01/2006

FD

01/01/2009

01/01/2009

12/01/2006

04/30/2001

01/01/2008


1st: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year).
2A: The 2 “A” preference is for Spouses and Children (under 21 & unmarried) of LPR's.
2B: The 2 “B” Preference is for Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or older) of LPR's.
3rd: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 per year)
4th: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens. (about 65,000 per year)


Employment-based 

Other Countries

China

India

Mexico

Philippines

EB-1

AD

C

11/15/2022

 02/15/2022

C

C

FD

C

01/01/2023

04/15/2022

C

C

EB-2

AD

09/01/2023

12/15/2020

01/01/2013

09/01/2023

09/01/2023

FD

11/15/2023

01/01/2021

02/01/2013

11/15/2023

11/15/2023

EB-3

AD

04/01/2023

12/01/2020

05/22/2013

04/01/2023

02/08/2023

FD

05/01/2023

12/22/2020

06/08/2013

05/01/2023

05/01/2023

Other Workers

AD

07/08/2021

05/01/2017

04/22/2013

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

FD

07/22/2021

01/01/2018

06/08/2013

07/22/2021

07/22/2021

EB-4*

AD

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

FD

02/01/2021

02/01/2021

02/01/2021

  02/01/2021

02/01/2021

EB-5

AD

C

12/08/2015

11/15//2019

C

C

FD

C

10/01/2016

04/01/2022

C

C


1st: Priority Workers (Extraordinary ability aliens, multinational companies' executives/managers, outstanding prof./researchers)
2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.
3rd: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers (Unskilled.)
4th: “Special Immigrants” (Religious & others)
*Visa numbers for Certain Religious Workers will be "Unavailable" in August.
5th: Employment Creation (Investors)
*China and India EB-5 visa numbers for rural, high unemployment & infrastructure areas/projects are current.

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)