BANGKOK – From October 1, 2025, anyone from Thailand and other countries outside the US visa waiver list will face a hefty new charge when applying for a US non-immigrant visa.
The fresh $250 “visa integrity fee,” part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025, brings the total cost for a US visitor visa up to $442. According to the US Travel Association, this amount puts US visa fees among the most expensive worldwide.
Visitors from Thailand, India, China, Brazil, Mexico, and more may find travel plans shaken and budgets strained, with many rethinking a US trip just as international tourism hopes for a rebound.
The new fee covers all nonimmigrant visa types, such as B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F-1 student visas, and H-1B employment visas. The fee is mandatory and cannot be skipped or reduced. Together with the existing $185 Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee and the recently raised $24 Form I-94 fee (previously $6), the total cost for a single application now stands at $442.
For a Thai family of four considering a US holiday, visa fees alone will add roughly $1,000, which poses a challenge for many middle-class families since the average Thai income is around $600 to $800 per month.
Supaporn Chaiyasang, a travel agent in Bangkok who organizes US trips, says, “For most Thai families, visiting the US means years of saving. Extra costs like these might rule out the trip, especially when you add flights and hotels on top.” Chaiyasang reports a 15% drop in customer inquiries since news of the fee came out. Many now opt for destinations like Japan or Singapore, where visa processes are simpler and less costly.
The US Travel Association points out that this extra charge boosts upfront costs for US visits by 144%. This rise alarms many in the industry. Erik Hansen, the group’s senior vice president of government relations, has labelled the fee a setback for US tourism, which already faces a predicted decline in 2025.
The World Travel & Tourism Council projects that international visitor spending in the US will fall to $169 billion in 2025 (down from $181 billion last year). The new fee is likely to make matters worse.
What the Visa Integrity Fee Means for Travellers from Thailand
In 2023, more than 170,000 Thai citizens visited the US. Now, higher visa costs may discourage future trips. Unlike citizens from 42 countries in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP)—including the UK, Australia, Singapore, and Japan—Thai citizens still need a visa, no matter how short their stay.
Travellers from VWP countries can enter for up to 90 days after paying a $40 ESTA fee (recently increased from $21). Thai applicants face a more complex process, which involves interviews in Bangkok or Chiang Mai and now extra fees.
Thai students hoping to study in America are among the most affected. The cost already includes the $350 SEVIS fee for F-1 visas, and the new $250 adds even more pressure. Many may start looking at other countries.
Nattapong Srisuk from Chiang Mai, who wanted to do a master’s in California, now considers Canada or Australia because their visa processes are quicker and less expensive.
Wider Impact and Economic Worries
Countries like India, China, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, and the Philippines are all affected in the same way. These nations account for millions of applicants each year. In 2024, the US issued almost 11 million nonimmigrant visas.
The new fee should bring in an estimated $28.9 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. However, many fear that tourism numbers and goodwill towards the US will suffer in return.
The timing has also raised eyebrows. The US is set to host major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Gabe Rizzi, president of global travel company Altour, worries that making entry harder will reduce visitor numbers, especially as people now have more travel options elsewhere.
The government says the fee will deter visa overstays and help fund border security. Travellers can get their money back if they leave the US within five days of their authorized stay.
However, lawyers such as Steven Brown of Reddy Neumann Brown PC say the refund process is unclear and could take years, since most visas last up to ten years. Travellers are advised to consider the fee non-refundable for now.
Groups like the US Travel Association are pushing back. Its president, Geoff Freeman, says the policy works against efforts to make the US more attractive to visitors. Each 1% drop in global visitor spending in the US leads to $1.8 billion less in revenue. A potential 14% decline in 2025 could cost as much as $21 billion.
Enforcement of Visa Rules
Thai applicants already face long wait times for visa appointments in Bangkok—often more than a month—and a complicated process. These challenges, paired with the new costs of the visa integrity fee, are encouraging more people to holiday in countries like South Korea or Malaysia.
Supaporn Chaiyasang notices more interest in places where Thai tourists are welcomed and the paperwork is simpler.
Details for exactly how the new fee will be enforced are still being worked out by US authorities. For now, anyone from Thailand or other non-waiver nations should prepare for the extra $250 charge and follow the latest updates from US embassies and consulates.
While officials state the goal is better enforcement of visa rules, many worry that the new policy will put global tourism, cultural ties, and business relationships at risk.
Many Thai travellers are now deciding whether a trip to the US is worth the added costs of the visa integrity fee. To check the latest requirements or get support, visit the US Embassy website or speak to a qualified immigration adviser.
