Starting October 1, 2025, travelers to the United States will face a significant increase in visa-related fees due to the introduction of a new Visa Integrity Fee. This fee, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) enacted during President Donald Trump’s administration, targets all non-immigrant visa holders—those visiting temporarily for tourism, business, study, or specialized work. The minimum fee is set at 250 US dollars, roughly 8,000 baht, which when combined with existing visa application fees, could push total costs to around 14,000 baht or more.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has the authority to adjust this fee upwards and will index it for inflation after initial implementation. The move aims to bolster the integrity of the US immigration system, particularly by addressing the issue of visa overstays. According to data from the US Congressional Research Service, between 2019 and 2022, about 1% to 2% of non-immigrant visitors overstayed their visas. Moreover, approximately 42% of the estimated 11 million unauthorized residents in the US initially entered legally but remained beyond their allowed stay.
The Visa Integrity Fee applies to a broad range of temporary visa categories, including tourist and business visas (B-1/B-2), student visas (F-1), specialized work visas (H-1B), and exchange visitor visas (J-1). The fee will be collected upon visa approval, meaning applicants whose visas are denied will not be charged. Steven A. Brown, a partner at a prominent immigration law firm in Houston, explained that this fee is in addition to existing visa fees. For example, H-1B visa holders currently pay 205 US dollars for their visa application; with the new fee, they would pay 455 US dollars total, approximately 14,734 baht.
In addition to the Visa Integrity Fee, most travelers who submit arrival and departure records via Form I-94 will see that fee increase from 6 US dollars to 24 US dollars (around 777 baht). However, tourists from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program—which currently includes 42 countries such as Canada and Bermuda—are exempt from this new fee, provided their visits do not exceed 90 days for tourism or business.
The implementation of this fee coincides with the US preparing to host major events in 2026, including the "America 250" celebrations marking the nation's 250th birthday and the FIFA World Cup. Yet, these new financial burdens come amid challenges for Brand USA, the country’s tourism marketing organization. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act slashed Brand USA’s budget from 100 million to 20 million US dollars, following the US Commerce Department’s removal of nearly half of the organization’s board members earlier in the year. Jeff Freeman, president of the US Travel Association, praised the bill’s investments in infrastructure, air traffic control, and border security but criticized the new fee as an unreasonable expense for international visitors, especially when coupled with Brand USA’s diminished promotional budget.
Regarding refunds, visa holders can only reclaim the Visa Integrity Fee if they comply with strict conditions: no unauthorized work and departure from the US within five days after their visa expires. However, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts that few will apply for refunds, given that visas often last several years and the refund process is expected to be slow and complex. The CBO estimates that the law will generate an additional 2.89 trillion US dollars in revenue and reduce budget deficits over the 2025-2034 period.
Steven Brown advises clients to consider the fee as non-refundable, stating, "If you get a refund, that’s great, but typically getting a refund from the government is difficult. I want them to think of it as a 'bonus' if they receive one." The exact start date remains unconfirmed, though the fee is expected to come into effect on October 1, 2025. Brown also notes that federal regulations or announcements are necessary to clarify the fee’s implementation.
Uncertainty surrounds how the fee will be collected. The One Big Beautiful Bill mandates DHS to collect the Visa Integrity Fee, yet DHS is not responsible for visa issuance or renewals, complicating coordination among agencies. The US Travel Association has expressed concerns about this ambiguity, highlighting the need for clear guidance on when and where travelers will pay the fee.
Travelers from countries not in the Visa Waiver Program, including Thailand, will face increased costs for US travel. For example, applicants for a B-1/B-2 tourist or business visa, who currently pay 185 US dollars, will now pay a combined 435 US dollars (about 14,000 baht) when the new fee is implemented. This increase has raised worries among students, business travelers, and temporary workers who already face significant expenses when applying for US visas.
As the US government seeks to strengthen immigration enforcement and generate revenue, these new fees represent a substantial hurdle for many international visitors. The timing is particularly sensitive given the upcoming major events in 2026 and the concurrent budget cuts to tourism promotion efforts. Whether these measures will deter visitors or help improve immigration integrity remains to be seen.
