File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Wikipedia 

 

The US has slapped a hefty new $250 fee on visa applicants, raising total costs for countries like Thailand to $442. This initiative could strain the travel industry, already hit by President Trump's immigration policies and declining visitor numbers.

 

In July 2025, overseas travel to the US dipped 3.1% compared to the previous year, with 19.2 million visitors recorded. This marked the fifth decline of the year, challenging hopes that visitor numbers would finally rise above the 2019 tally of 79.4 million.

 

The new charge, effective from October 1, targets non-visa waiver countries, impacting nations like Thailand, Mexico, India, and China. The US Travel Association noted this fee hike places the US among the world's costliest destinations for visitors.

 

Gabe Rizzi, president of Altour, warns that increased travel costs will likely deter potential tourists. As the summer concludes, budgeting for these visa fees will become a growing concern for travellers.

 

The World Travel & Tourism Council predicts international visitor spending in the US will plunge to below $169 billion this year, a drop from $181 billion in 2024. The fee intensifies the US's unfavourable image under Trump's administration, which is characterised by restrictive immigration policies.

 

Further regulations proposed by the Trump administration aim to limit visa durations for students and media members. Additionally, a pilot program requiring up to $15,000 in bonds for some tourist visas reflects an effort to reduce visa overstays.

 

Tourism Economics had initially forecast a 10% rise in US overseas travel for 2025. However, current projections indicate a 3% decline, with director Aran Ryan suggesting these challenges will persist under the administration.

 

The visa hike is expected to severely impact Central and South American countries, which had shown increased US travel interest. As of May, travel from Mexico to the US surged nearly 14% in 2025, showcasing a rare bright spot in visitor data, reported Reuters.

 

Arrivals from China remain subdued, with July figures still 53% below 2019 levels. Meanwhile, visitor numbers from India have dropped 2.4% this year, notably impacted by a significant decrease in students.

 

For some tourists, the increased fees are merely another expense in the costly US travel experience. Su Shu, the founder of the Chinese travel company Moment Travel, stated that financial capability has always been a requirement for US visas.

 

Concerns about potential reciprocal entry fees for US travellers are rising, according to a travel agent, James Kitchen. Travellers fear similar charges could emerge as a response from other nations in the coming months.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from REUTERS 2025-09-01

 

I can drive across the USA border show my passport and im in. 

Reaction from folks on various social media platforms indicate Murikkka is about to become a global pariah. Reminds me of a saying my dad taught me: "Go greedy, get nothing."

3 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Reaction from folks on various social media platforms indicate Murikkka is about to become a global pariah. Reminds me of a saying my dad taught me: "Go greedy, get nothing."

 

The human race is greedy. 

It shouldnt be easy to get in.

Which countries do not need a visa to enter America?

 

 

Citizens of the United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, ...

Shortly after the announcement I read that the extra $250 would be refunded when the applicant returned to his/her country. If this is true things are not as bad as they appeared to be in this article.

4 minutes ago, Searat7 said:

Shortly after the announcement I read that the extra $250 would be refunded when the applicant returned to his/her country. If this is true things are not as bad as they appeared to be in this article.

Fake News. 

The real question is with all this dogma coming from the White House, and all this anti foreigner sentiment, why are people visiting the US at all right now? Tourism is way down, but it should be down to next to zero. That's what the US richly deserves at this point. 

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

The real question is with all this dogma coming from the White House, and all this anti foreigner sentiment, why are people visiting the US at all right now? Tourism is way down, but it should be down to next to zero. That's what the US richly deserves at this point. 

Im loving it mike. No tourists is heaven

Just now, angryguy said:

Im loving it mike. No tourists is heaven

I tend to agree and I feel the same way, and same about tourism being down in Thailand, but it hurts a lot of people in the process. Dumb policy is just that. 

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I tend to agree and I feel the same way, and same about tourism being down in Thailand, but it hurts a lot of people in the process. Dumb policy is just that. 

A lot of it is hurting democratic areas. He doesn't care.

12 minutes ago, marin said:

Fake News. 

Perhaps.  Or misunderstood. Even AI is quoting this. 

AI Overview

Yes, under a new policy, some U.S. visitors from certain countries may need to pay a visa bond (a refundable deposit) or a visa integrity fee ($250) upon arrival. The visa bond is a security deposit, and both the bond and the integrity fee are refundable under specific conditions, such as complying with visa rules and departing the U.S. by the established deadline. The visa integrity fee is a new, non-refundable fee in addition to the standard visa application fee. The specific requirements will depend on the individual traveler's country of origin. 

 

After a little checking though. Thais are required to post a visa bond up to 15000 USD for certain types of visa holders. But this 250 extra is an actual fee. This began Aug 20 2025. I think their raising the visa cost though is related to the immigration problems the US is currently facing. So perhaps that fee will not be there once the illegals have been removed allowing less personnel to seek out those illegals. 

Also, if a traveller can not afford 442 for their visa, then how can they afford more than 3 days in the US? Hotels, transportation, food, sightseeing, will all cost more than that for the visitor.

 

The visa bond program sounds harsh to accomplish but it is a good idea. Given that so many enter the country on valid Visas but then disappear and never leave. 

How the Visa Bond Program Works

Eligibility: The program is for certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants, and the requirement will be determined by a U.S. consular officer during the visa interview. 

Bond Amounts: The bond amount can be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. 

Payment: If required, you will be directed to pay the bond online through the Department of the Treasury's Pay.gov portal using a Form I-352. 

Refund: The bond will be refunded after you leave the U.S. on time. 

Forfeiture: The bond will be forfeited to the government if you overstay your visa. 

 

This is a pilot program, so its implementation is ongoing. 

A bond is not automatically required for all applicants. 

You should not use third-party websites for payment, as the U.S. government is not responsible for any money paid outside of its official systems. 

Consular officers will decide the bond amount based on factors such as your purpose of travel, current employment, and income

10 minutes ago, angryguy said:

Im loving it mike. No tourists is heaven

That is because your focus is on “me”. Not concerned in the least with those whose incomes (well-being) is reliant on the tourism industry.

4 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

That is because your focus is on “me”. Not concerned in the least with those whose incomes (well-being) is reliant on the tourism industry.

Hotels should lower their prices anyways. They are getting away with murder

1 minute ago, thesetat said:

Perhaps.  Or misunderstood. Even AI is quoting this. 

AI Overview

Yes, under a new policy, some U.S. visitors from certain countries may need to pay a visa bond (a refundable deposit) or a visa integrity fee ($250) upon arrival. The visa bond is a security deposit, and both the bond and the integrity fee are refundable under specific conditions, such as complying with visa rules and departing the U.S. by the established deadline. The visa integrity fee is a new, non-refundable fee in addition to the standard visa application fee. The specific requirements will depend on the individual traveler's country of origin. 

 

After a little checking though. Thais are required to post a visa bond up to 15000 USD for certain types of visa holders. But this 250 extra is an actual fee. This began Aug 20 2025. I think their raising the visa cost though is related to the immigration problems the US is currently facing. So perhaps that fee will not be there once the illegals have been removed allowing less personnel to seek out those illegals. 

Also, if a traveller can not afford 442 for their visa, then how can they afford more than 3 days in the US? Hotels, transportation, food, sightseeing, will all cost more than that for the visitor.

 

The visa bond program sounds harsh to accomplish but it is a good idea. Given that so many enter the country on valid Visas but then disappear and never leave. 

How the Visa Bond Program Works

Eligibility: The program is for certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants, and the requirement will be determined by a U.S. consular officer during the visa interview. 

Bond Amounts: The bond amount can be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. 

Payment: If required, you will be directed to pay the bond online through the Department of the Treasury's Pay.gov portal using a Form I-352. 

Refund: The bond will be refunded after you leave the U.S. on time. 

Forfeiture: The bond will be forfeited to the government if you overstay your visa. 

 

This is a pilot program, so its implementation is ongoing. 

A bond is not automatically required for all applicants. 

You should not use third-party websites for payment, as the U.S. government is not responsible for any money paid outside of its official systems. 

Consular officers will decide the bond amount based on factors such as your purpose of travel, current employment, and income

And if less people visit the USA, then less foreign money will be spent in the USA and this will help reduce that national $37 Trillion national debt how? It will result in less and not more visitors, less hotel stays and less car hires, just for starters.

 

Just another stupid stunt by TACO Trump.

10 minutes ago, stevenl said:

A lot of it is hurting democratic areas. He doesn't care.

so you care more than me? Thats rich, you dont even live here. You dont care about americans either

1 minute ago, billd766 said:

And if less people visit the USA, then less foreign money will be spent in the USA and this will help reduce that national $37 Trillion national debt how? It will result in less and not more visitors, less hotel stays and less car hires, just for starters.

 

Just another stupid stunt by TACO Trump.

And if less people visit the Us because they can not afford the visa fee, that means they could not afford to spend any money while there which in turn means they would not contribute to reducing the national debt and more likely they went there to cheat the system anyway. 

21 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The real question is with all this dogma coming from the White House, and all this anti foreigner sentiment, why are people visiting the US at all right now? Tourism is way down, but it should be down to next to zero. That's what the US richly deserves at this point. 

You don't think the country has had it with illegals and their cost of being here?

1 minute ago, thesetat said:

And if less people visit the Us because they can not afford the visa fee, that means they could not afford to spend any money while there which in turn means they would not contribute to reducing the national debt and more likely they went there to cheat the system anyway. 

The extra visa fee is per person, so a family of 4 will face an extra $1,000, which is not so cheap after all.

5 minutes ago, angryguy said:

Hotels should lower their prices anyways. They are getting away with murder

Haha... the cost for a cheap motel is now between 60 to 150 USD nightly. Imagine the cost for a hotel. How can a tourist pay for that if paying the visa fee makes a problem for them? 

2 minutes ago, thesetat said:

more likely they went there to cheat the system anyway. 

okay Trump fan, what percentage of tourists visiting the USA on a summer holiday are there to "cheat the system"? 

Just now, thesetat said:

Haha... the cost for a cheap motel is now between 60 to 150 USD nightly. Imagine the cost for a hotel. How can a tourist pay for that if paying the visa fee makes a problem for them? 

See this guy gets it. Thailand, take notes. If you want quality tourists, you have to price out the unquality ones

Just now, marin said:

okay Trump fan, what percentage of tourists visiting the USA on a summer holiday are there to "cheat the system"? 

Excuse me. What does an opinion about Trump have to do with anything said here? Seems you are using your hate for Trump to disagree with it simply because you do not like Trump. 

5 minutes ago, marin said:

okay Trump fan, what percentage of tourists visiting the USA on a summer holiday are there to "cheat the system"? 

AI says One in every hundred.. 

meaning roughly 1 in every 100 nonimmigrant visitors remained in the United States beyond their authorized period of admission.

Given that the US has 

In 2023, approximately 66.5 million tourists in that year. 665,000 did not leave after their visa expired that year alone.

3 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Haha... the cost for a cheap motel is now between 60 to 150 USD nightly. Imagine the cost for a hotel. How can a tourist pay for that if paying the visa fee makes a problem for them? 

I wonder how many times you have complained about the potential 300 baht tourist charge that has been discussed for the last 5 or ten years??

Why are you being such an a-hole about this?  Many people might be coming to stay with family.  The US has many Indian workers for example.  So if they get a visa for their parents to come visit that is an extra $1000.  They won’t be staying in a hotel.  That’s a lot of money in India that they could send home or save.

Other countries who make Americans get visas usually charge us the same fee so you expect us to get charged the same thing next time you need a visa.

15 minutes ago, angryguy said:

so you care more than me? Thats rich, you dont even live here. You dont care about americans either

Strange conclusions.

1 minute ago, amykat said:

I wonder how many times you have complained about the potential 300 baht tourist charge that has been discussed for the last 5 or ten years??

Why are you being such an a-hole about this?  Many people might be coming to stay with family.  The US has many Indian workers for example.  So if they get a visa for their parents to come visit that is an extra $1000.  They won’t be staying in a hotel.  That’s a lot of money in India that they could send home or save.

Other countries who make Americans get visas usually charge us the same fee so you expect us to get charged the same thing next time you need a visa.

Complained about it haha... Never... but seems you have been. The hotel was an example as the majority of tourist do not go to see family. You are really taking a small portion to use as a guide for the majority. 

2 minutes ago, amykat said:

Why are you being such an a-hole about this?

Because it's a trump administration policy, therefore has to be defended at all costs.

Some people here are just absolutely gleeful at the thought of anything that f*cks over other people!!  Just like their mentor Trump.