3 minutes ago, asiacurious said:

 

The entire bill was designed to CUT taxes for the wealthiest in the US, not to reduce the deficit.  The bill INCREASES the national debt by trillions. If they wanted to do actually reduce the debt, they would have raised taxes on those who have benefited the most. 

Since Trump exists to benefit Trump & his friends (he imagines, although, I assume any decent humans would not be his real friends), taxes on the rich will never go up.

2 minutes ago, MarkBR said:

Since Trump exists to benefit Trump & his friends (he imagines, although, I assume any decent humans would not be his real friends), taxes on the rich will never go up.

Yup. Alas, the only thing that seems to go up for most people is misery and suffering. 

27 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

 

I do

A storm in a teacup, much Ado about nothing, will not hardly effect anyone 

One thing you have to take into consideration is that a US tourist visa is a 10 year multiple entry visa.

When Thailand tried to tax tourists 300 baht yes 300 baht farangs cried foul etc etc etc....

1 hour ago, JulesMad said:

Only your riff raff wants to go to america; normal decent folks have so many more better options 😎

Who is his riff-raff, and why are they not decent.......?  🤔

1 minute ago, chuang said:

When Thailand tried to tax tourists 300 baht yes 300 baht farangs cried foul etc etc etc....

 

I can't say that I personally would foul over 300 Baht (though I think it's dumb and self-defeating when your stated desire is to increase tourism!).

 

But I'm a farang and am most definitely crying foul over a fee that is over 25X that 300 baht fee. 

 

That said, the goal of the US is (currently and unfortunately) to minimize visitors to the US and isolate America and Americans from the rest of the world.  The fee is in keeping with those goals. 

8 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Should keep out the riff raff from the countries ineligible for the Visa Waiver program. 

The things America does to save whats RIGHT !

It should be $1k! If ya wanna come ,pay the price !

If ya cross illegally you pay the price of hard knocks .

1 hour ago, TheAppletons said:

 

  I never mentioned Trump, Yakov.  You did.  I simply clarified that this would apply to tourist visas.

 

  As an American citizen, doesn't affect me either way.  

 

  

The thread is though. Blaming Trump for the charge.

As i said. The headline is purposely misleading and implies everyone will incur this cost. Even for a 2 week holiday. Which is incorrect

 

 

2 minutes ago, riclag said:

The things Daddy does to save whats RIGHT !

It should be $1k! If ya wanna come pay the price !

If ya cross illegally you pay the price of hard knocks .

 

Why am I cringing?.....I didn't even write this.

1 hour ago, asiacurious said:

 

It used to be you could exit and re-enter visa exempt, up to 2 times a year (I think).  I don't know if that's still the case.

 

So if you wanted to stay in Thailand for 8 months (or 9) and don't qualify for (or don't want to apply for) a non-Imm visa, this was the easiest way to stay. You do need to exit and re-enter every 60 days. 

 

For example:

Day 1: Visa obtained.

Day 5: Arrive Thailand.

Day 64:  Take a 5 day trip to.... Vietnam?

Day 69: Return to Thailand.

Day 129: Maybe a 3 day trip to Malaysia? day trip to Malaysia.

Day 132: Return to Thailand.

Day 175: How about a 4 day trip to Cambodia?

Day 179: Return to Thailand.

Day 239: Time to leave Thailand. Or you could have applied for a 30 day extension! 

Day 269: Leave Thailand. Get a new 6 month (which ends up being nearly 9 months).

 

 

 

Staying for that length of time is vastly different to what the person I qoute was talking about so yes, A visa is a wise choice.

2 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Show me the part where tourists are going to pay this $250 fee just for holidays

Visa categories:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/all-visa-categories.html

 

Where it says that:

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/travel/visa-integrity-fee-usa-international-travelers

 

 

So even to transit through United States, for example you're flying to Palau via Guam, you'll need a transit visa, for which you'll have to pay 250$ unless you can do ESTA.

 

In other words, this is Thailand, and Thais are not on the ESTA eligible list, as such for everyone of them, visa costs will increase 250$.

1 minute ago, tomazbodner said:

Visa categories:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/all-visa-categories.html

 

Where it says that:

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/travel/visa-integrity-fee-usa-international-travelers

 

 

So even to transit through United States, for example you're flying to Palau via Guam, you'll need a transit visa, for which you'll have to pay 250$ unless you can do ESTA.

 

In other words, this is Thailand, and Thais are not on the ESTA eligible list, as such for everyone of them, visa costs will increase 250$.

 

 

A word.....don't hold your breath whilst waiting for a sensible response.

 

 

ESTA 90 day Visa waiver still showing as $21.00

 

Quote

• Payment method:
  Fee for application is $21.00 USD.
  Valid payment methods include MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover (JCB or Diners Club only), and PayPal.

 

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Knowing that a tourist trip to the U.S., including accommodation etc..., cost multiple $1000s, I doubt it will have any significant impact on tourism. 

38 minutes ago, riclag said:

The things America does to save whats RIGHT !

It should be $1k! If ya wanna come ,pay the price !

If ya cross illegally you pay the price of hard knocks .

Let's do that rule for people from the USA in Thailand too. 

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Let's do that rule for people from the USA in Thailand too. 

 

 

The things Daddy does to save whats RIGHT !

It should be $1k! If ya wanna come pay the price !

If ya cross illegally you pay the price of hard knocks .

 

 

Very odd...that was his original post!!!!

The integrity fee will on top of other existing costs e.g $185 for application fee or $350 for SEVIS fee for students. Adds up to quite a substantial amount. For groups or families, it is considerable amount. It will be over 100% in upfront visa costs. The US Travel Association identify as a top deterrent for potential visitors. Refunds are in theory available but as customary for the Trump's administration inefficiency, DHS said it is not yet in place.

This is just the latest, but a crystal clear, example of no coordination within policy-making whatsoever.

 

Given that visits and foreign tourism to the United States are already lagging - due to American's xenophobia drummed up the Trump "administration" and the understandable fear that any foreigner could be detained by ICE without any reason given upon arriving at a US airport from abroad - throwing in another demand for USD 250 on top of a visa fee in advance is bindingly stupid right now.

 

If this is still on the cards for next year - World Cup year - and since matches are also being held in both Canada and Mexico (the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a 3-nation affair) wouldn't many fans just choose Mexican or Canadian WC venues instead of US ones? Occam's razor really.

 

 

1 hour ago, asiacurious said:

That said, the goal of the US is (currently and unfortunately) to minimize visitors to the US and isolate America and Americans from the rest of the world.  The fee is in keeping with those goals. 

There are concerned (leaked) rumblings - though nothing official yet - from FIFA about next year's World Cup venues. Most are in the US, with Canada and Mexico hosting the rest. Contractually, it's probably too late for FIFA to move more of those matches away from the US to the other two countries. But you really need to wonder whether such a big event like this is even on Trump's radar screen, or that of his incompetent 'cabinet' members.

If you cant afford $250 then you cant afford it there

7 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Starting October 1, 2024.....?

The source article is dated 2022!

2 hours ago, riclag said:

The things America does to save whats RIGHT !

It should be $1k! If ya wanna come ,pay the price !

If ya cross illegally you pay the price of hard knocks .

The way the US tourist industry is tanking, they’ll be paying tourists $1k to go there. (and that still ain’t no bargain).

56 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

There are concerned (leaked) rumblings - though nothing official yet - from FIFA about next year's World Cup venues. Most are in the US, with Canada and Mexico hosting the rest. Contractually, it's probably too late for FIFA to move more of those matches away from the US to the other two countries. But you really need to wonder whether such a big event like this is even on Trump's radar screen, or that of his incompetent 'cabinet' members.

 

Contractually, a force majeure clause might give them an out. But could they find enough available new venues in time?

39 minutes ago, asiacurious said:

 

Contractually, a force majeure clause might give them an out. But could they find enough available new venues in time?

Not sure. Maybe they would just use the same venues they already have in Canada and Mexico - but not sure if that's enough, or if they are already booked on the additional dates. Would be a welcome windfall for them though. I guess foreign fans wouldn't just come for the matches, but would use the opportunity to have a vacation there too..

11 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Should keep out the riff raff from the countries ineligible for the Visa Waiver program. 

If you cant afford that, you shouldnt be coming. Thailand does it.

2 hours ago, angryguy said:

If you cant afford $250 then you cant afford it there

Thats one night in a non junkie hotel near JFK or LAX

 Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries (like most of Western Europe, Australia, and Japan) are generally exempt from the fee if traveling for tourism or business for less than 90 days. Canadians and Bermudians are also generally exempt from the fee. 

5 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Thats one night in a non junkie hotel near JFK or LAX

I highly recommend The Quality Inn near JFK.  It even provides pre-clogged toilets.