Traveling to the U.S.? Prepare for an additional visa fee of 8,000 THB starting October 1, 2025
International Tourist Numbers Continue to Decline
According to U.S. government data, the number of international travelers to the U.S. in July fell 3.1% year-on-year to 19.2 million, marking the fifth consecutive month of decline this year. This contrasts with expectations that in 2025, the number of visitors could return to more than 79.4 million, the level before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new visa fee will increase difficulties for travelers from countries not in the Visa Waiver Program, such as Mexico, Argentina, India, Brazil, and China. It will also raise the total visa cost to $442 (around 14,000 THB), which is one of the highest tourist visa fees in the world, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
Travel Industry Warns of Severe Impact
Gabe Rizzi, President of Altour, a global travel management company, said every added difficulty in travel will definitely reduce the number of travelers. As summer ends, these problems will become more apparent, and adjustments will need to be made in travel budgets and documents to match the new fee.
The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that international tourist spending in the U.S. this year may fall below $169 billion, down from $181 billion in 2024.
Stricter Policies Affect U.S. Image
This measure reinforces the image of a stricter U.S. under Trump’s administration in immigration policies, foreign aid cuts, and tariff barriers, making the country less attractive as a destination — even with major upcoming events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
- Travel from Mexico increased by nearly 14%
- Travel from Argentina rose by 20%
- Travel from Brazil grew by 4.6%
Concerns About Long-Term Travel Behavior
For anyone who wants to exchange foreign currencies in the Huai Khwang area, you can easily exchange your money at ACU Currency Exchange. Just get off at MRT Huai Khwang Station, Exit 4, then walk straight for 500 meters, and you will see the ACU Building (head office).
You can check the daily exchange rates during business hours at https://acu-exchange.com/
or pre-order your currency in advance through Line OA : https://lin.ee/ph4iznU
Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: 205/18-19 Ratchadaphisek Road, Ratchadaphisek Subdistrict, Din Daeng District, Bangkok 10400
Phone numbers: 02-002-1008, 061-028-3918, 084-324-4893
Source
reuters- Popular Tag | us travel, visa cost 2025
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ACU-Exchange
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