WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States Department of State says it will pause immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Thailand, from 21 January 2026. The pause has no stated end date. It forms part of the Trump administration’s push to limit immigration and block entry for people officials believe may rely on public benefits.
According to an internal State Department memo first reported by Fox News, consular teams have been instructed to stop processing immigrant visas, meaning visas that can lead to permanent residence. This includes routes such as family-sponsored and employment-based green cards. The department says it will use the pause to re-examine its screening and vetting steps.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the department will rely on existing authority to refuse applicants judged likely to become a public charge. He added that immigrant visa processing from the 75 named countries will be paused while the State Department reviews its procedures, with the stated aim of preventing foreign nationals from entering the US to access welfare and other public benefits.
The move follows tougher use of the “public charge” rule, which was reinstated and expanded in late 2025. Under the updated approach, consular officers are expected to refuse visas where they believe an applicant is likely to depend on government support.
Officials consider factors such as age, health, English ability, finances, education, and the chance of needing long-term medical care. The memo also points to concerns about welfare fraud, including cases linked to Somali nationals in Minnesota.
Countries Covered by the Immigrant Visa Pause
The US visa suspension covering 75 countries spans Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. The list includes: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
Thailand’s inclusion has surprised some observers. The country has long-standing diplomatic ties with the US and has not faced broad travel limits in recent years.
Non-Immigrant Visas are Not Part of this Suspension
The State Department has stressed that the pause applies only to immigrant visas. Nonimmigrant visas such as tourist (B-1/B-2), business, student (F-1), and exchange visitor (J-1) visas are still being handled as normal.
That distinction matters as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, with the United States set to co-host and welcome large numbers of visitors. The department says the policy will not affect short stays, so tourism, business trips, and temporary exchanges should continue.
What this means for Thai nationals and families
For Thai citizens, this immigrant visa pause for Thailand is likely to cause serious disruption for anyone planning a permanent move to the US. Families seeking reunification with US citizens or permanent residents, skilled workers with job offers, and applicants using other immigrant routes may face open-ended delays. People already mid-process may see their cases put on hold, which can bring real uncertainty.
In Thailand, many applicants aim for US permanent residence through marriage, family routes, or work. The suspension could affect thousands. The US Embassy in Bangkok has handled a steady volume of immigrant visa cases in recent years, including K-1 fiancé visas and IR family categories.
Non-immigrant visa services at the US Embassy in Bangkok remain in place. Still, the broader message is clear: the administration is taking a harder line on legal immigration. Thai applicants for tourist or business visas should expect the normal process, but they may also see closer checks, including reviews of social media and requests for stronger financial evidence.
Travel advisers are urging affected applicants to follow updates from the US Department of State and the US Embassy in Thailand. There is no end date for the pause, and it remains in place until the review is complete.
This is one of the widest restrictions on immigrant visa processing in recent years, with the government linking it directly to the US State Department public charge rule of 2026 and tighter vetting.
