SEC. 100007. VISA INTEGRITY FEE.
(a) Visa Integrity Fee.–
(1) In general.–In addition to any other fee authorized by
law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require the
payment of a fee, equal to the amount specified in this
subsection, by any alien issued a nonimmigrant visa at the time
of such issuance.
(2) Initial amount.–For fiscal year 2025, the amount
specified in this section shall be the greater of–
(A) $250; or
(B) such amount as the Secretary of Homeland
Security may establish, by rule.
(3) Annual adjustments for inflation.–During fiscal year
2026, and during each subsequent fiscal year, the amount
specified in this section shall be equal to the sum of–
(A) the amount of the fee required under this
subsection for the most recently concluded fiscal year;
and
(B) the product resulting from the multiplication
of the amount referred to in subparagraph (A) by the
percentage (if any) by which the Consumer Price Index
for All Urban Consumers for the month of July preceding
the date on which such adjustment takes effect exceeds
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for
the same month of the preceding calendar year, rounded
down to the nearest dollar.
(4) Disposition of visa integrity fees.–All of the fees
collected pursuant to this section that are not reimbursed
pursuant to subsection (b) shall be deposited into the general
fund of the Treasury.
(5) No fee waiver.–Fees required to be paid under this
subsection shall not be waived or reduced.
(b) Fee Reimbursement.–The Secretary of Homeland Security may
provide a reimbursement to an alien of the fee required under
subsection (a) for the issuance of a nonimmigrant visa after the
expiration of such nonimmigrant visa’s period of validity if such alien
demonstrates that he or she–
(1) after admission to the United States pursuant to such
nonimmigrant visa, complied with all conditions of such
nonimmigrant visa, including the condition that an alien shall
not accept unauthorized employment; and
(2)(A) has not sought to extend his or her period of
admission during such period of validity and departed the
United States not later than 5 days after the last day of such
period; or
(B) during such period of validity, was granted an
extension of such nonimmigrant status or an adjustment to the
status of a lawful permanent resident.
Gemini解读：
这个条款设立了一项名为“签证诚信费” (Visa Integrity Fee) 的新费用，旨在确保非移民签证持有者遵守其签证条款。
简单来说，核心内容是：大多数非移民签证的申请人在获得签证时需要额外支付一笔可退还的“押金”，如果持有人在美期间完全遵守了签证规定，这笔钱可以在签证过期后申请退还。
以下是该条款各部分的详细解读：
(a) 签证诚信费 (Visa Integrity Fee)
这部分规定了费用的征收。
- 收费对象与时间: 美国国土安全部 (Secretary of Homeland Security) 将在向任何外国人签发非移民签证时，额外征收这笔费用。这笔费用是在所有其他现有签证费（如申请费）之外的额外费用。
- 初始金额 (2025财年):
- 费用金额为 $250美元 或 国土安全部长通过法规设定的更高金额，以两者中数额较大者为准。
- 年度通胀调整:
- 从2026财年开始，该费用每年都会根据通货膨胀进行调整。
- 调整的计算方式是：上一年的费用 + (上一年的费用 × 年度消费价格指数CPI的增长百分比)。计算结果向下取整到最接近的美元。
- 费用处理: 所有未根据(b)条款退还的费用，将上缴至美国财政部的普通基金。
- 不可豁免: 此费用不能以任何理由被豁免或减免。
(b) 费用退还 (Fee Reimbursement)
这部分是关键，规定了在何种条件下可以申请退还这笔费用。
国土安全部长可以 (may) 向符合条件的外国人退还这笔费用。请注意，这里用词是“可以”，意味着退款并非自动，需要申请和证明。
申请退款必须满足以下所有条件： - 前提条件：始终遵守签证规定
- 在凭该非移民签证入境美国后，必须完全遵守了签证的所有条件。
- 这特别强调了不能从事未经授权的工作。
- 离境或身份转换的二选一条件：
- 情况A：按时离境
- 在签证有效期内，没有申请过延长逗留期限。
- 在签证有效期最后一天之后的5天内离开了美国。
- 情况B：合法延长或转换身份
- 在签证有效期内，成功获得了身份延期 (extension of such nonimmigrant status) 的批准。
- 或者，在签证有效期内，成功获得了身份调整 (adjustment to the status of a lawful permanent resident)，即转换为了美国合法永久居民（绿卡）。
总结与要点
- 情况A：按时离境
- 性质: 这实质上是一笔“行为押金”。其目的是激励非移民签证持有人遵守美国移民法，特别是按时离境或通过合法途径维持身份。
- 影响人群: 几乎所有申请美国非移民签证的人（如B类旅游/商务签证、F类学生签证、H-1B工作签证等）都将受到影响。
- 如何拿回退款: 关键在于两点：
- 行为记录良好：在美期间没有违反签证条款（比如学生签证持有人非法打工，旅游签证持有人去工作等）。
- 身份处理得当：要么在签证到期后迅速离境，要么在到期前就成功办理了身份延期或转换绿卡。
- 潜在风险: 如果签证持有人在美国“黑”了下来（即逾期滞留），或者有其他违反签证规定的行为，这笔$250美元（或更高）的费用将被没收。
总而言之，这项条款为非移民签证增加了一个经济上的约束，旨在加强对签证持有人的管理，确保他们遵守承诺，减少非法滞留和非法工作的现象。
