Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing recent news that there have been increases in fees associated with US Visa processing through Embassies and Consulates abroad. This particular video is going to focus on this from the standpoint of dealing with this matter from the US Embassy here in Thailand, but that said, I think some of the analysis can be applied more broadly. 

That being said, I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Thai Enquirer, that is thaienquirer.com, the article is titled: US Visa fees set to increase in October under new "Integrity Fee" policy. Quoting directly: "The US Congress has approved a new visa fee increase expected to take effect in October under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" signed by President Donald Trump on July 4. A new "Integrity Fee" will add $250 (over 8,000 baht) to the cost of all Non-immigrant Visas including Tourist, Student and Business Visas. This fee is charged when the Visa is issued on top of the current Visa fees. Currently US Tourist and Business Visa applicants pay $185 (about 6,000 Baht). With the new fee, the total cost will rise to at least $435 (around 14,000 baht). The fee applies to all travellers using Non-immigrant Visas except those from 42 visa-waiver countries. However, travellers from those countries who need special visas like student or work visas, must also pay the fee. Thailand is not part of the Visa Waiver Program so Thai travellers will be affected. No official start date has been announced but the fee is expected to begin with the US fiscal year on October 1, 2025" 

The thing to point out with regard to this video and take away from this video is CR-1, Conditional Resident Visas and Immediate Relative Visas, IR-1, are Immigrant Spousal Visas. So those who are seeking those visas have for example a Thai spouse, and they are wishing to bring that person into the United States for Lawful Permanent Residence; that's an Immigrant Visa. This fee increase announcement as I'm reading it, only applies to Non-immigrant Visas so it doesn't look like there is a fee increase at the Embassies associated with Immigrant visas. 

That said, I am doing further research as of the time in his video so if I am wrong on that or I need to issue an updated video, I will do so. But I wanted to get a video out on this topic because I know this is going to be rather big news, that yeah in the Non-immigrant Visa unit yes, we are going to be seeing Visa fees increase. In the Immigrant Visa unit, which these are two separate units within the Consulates at the US Embassy here in Bangkok, it looks to me like fees are continuing as they were. That being said, we are not fully apprised just exactly how this new Big Beautiful Bill's provisions are exactly going to be applied, so we will certainly be keeping you updated on this channel as the situation evolves.