The US is making its visa bond programme permanent from August 3, 2026. Consular officers can require B-1 business and B-2 tourist applicants from 50 listed countries to post a bond of US$10,000, US$15,000 or US$20,000. Thailand is not on the list; Cambodia is, and Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and Georgia are too. Thai businesses are not directly affected, but Thai staff or partners who are nationals of listed countries should expect this when travelling to the US. The bond is the only new cost; the US$5,000 option has been dropped.