Picture courtesy of Thai PBS WORLD

The United States has announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including Thailand, aiming to prevent the entry of individuals deemed likely to become a public charge. This decision, effective from January 21, results from the US State Department's reassessment of its screening and vetting procedures under current immigration law. The suspension aims to block applicants potentially dependent on public benefits in the US.

The State Department has instructed consular officers worldwide to refuse visas under existing legal provisions while conducting a comprehensive review. This pause, without a set end date, will last until the reassessment concludes. Other affected ASEAN nations include Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, alongside countries such as Russia, Somalia, and Brazil.

In November 2025, the department sent a cable to US diplomatic posts instructing stricter enforcement of the "public charge" provision in immigration law. The directive advises officers to deny visas based on factors like health, age, English proficiency, financial stability, and potential long-term medical needs. Applicants who are older, overweight, or previously relied on government cash assistance could face rejection.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott emphasised the use of long-standing authority to declare ineligible those who might face a public charge. The public charge provision, although longstanding, has seen varied enforcement across different US administrations. Exceptions to the suspension will be very limited and only granted following public charge clearance.

Looking ahead, the outcome of this review process will determine future immigration procedures and policies. The focus remains on reassessing current mechanisms to maintain stringent entry criteria, ensuring immigrant self-sufficiency and reducing public assistance reliance, reported Thai PBS WORLD.

Key Takeaways:

• US halts immigrant visa processing for 75 nations, including Thailand.

• Suspension targets applicants likely to become public charges.

• Reassessment of immigration screening to be conducted with indefinite pause.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS WORLD 2026-01-15

 

 

The way things are going under the conmans rule, no one wants to go to the USA anyway. No real loss to anyone until the govt changes.

What if Thailand does the same?

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

What if Thailand does the same?

How many Americans are going on the dole in Thailand?

Here's the key, from the OP: aiming to prevent the entry of individuals deemed likely to become a public charge.

On 1/15/2026 at 6:17 AM, impulse said:

How many Americans are going on the dole in Thailand?

Got nothing to do with it, they want to refuse all Thais. If it is about money, you can make rules for that.

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

Got nothing to do with it, they want to refuse all Thais. If it is about money, you can make rules for that.

They're taking a timeout to evaluate why so many approved visa candidates end up on the dole when they come to the USA. Sounds reasonable to me. Sounds like the vetting process hasn't been working very well.

43 minutes ago, impulse said:

They're taking a timeout to evaluate why so many approved visa candidates end up on the dole when they come to the USA. Sounds reasonable to me. Sounds like the vetting process hasn't been working very well.

link please ...

1 minute ago, sharot724 said:

link please ...

My link is the OP.

Just now, impulse said:

My link is the OP.

right I went through the entire process without a hitch as many have experienced. You can provide any proof, any ?

4 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

right I went through the entire process without a hitch as many have experienced. You can provide any proof, any ?

Well then there shouldn't be an issue if you had no problems.

49 minutes ago, impulse said:

How many Americans are going on the dole in Thailand?

Here's the key, from the OP: aiming to prevent the entry of individuals deemed likely to become a public charge.

I have been demanding that Thailand give me free housing, free health care, and free money every month, as all the immigrant freeloaders get in the USA, the EU, and the UK.....

So far I have not got a single baht out of the Thai government....

Expats in Thailand in Thailand need to unite and demand they give us free stuff.......lol

My wife (marriage not registered but could be if needed ) needs to start the visa process and hope this won't complicate things. She isn't wealthy but has multiple properties and rental income (15-25k). Also has 1-2 million in the bank. She is in great health with no children and looks like a respectable 50+ ( biased I know ). I'm also financially stable but it is my understanding that my situation isn't a concern in regards to her visa.

Anybody out there have an opinion on the above? What issues might I expect?

2 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

What if Thailand does the same?

Thailand would be annexed by Donnie.

Then the Gulf of Thailand would also be renamed the Gulf of America.

21 minutes ago, atpeace said:

My wife (marriage not registered but could be if needed ) needs to start the visa process and hope this won't complicate things. She isn't wealthy but has multiple properties and rental income (15-25k). Also has 1-2 million in the bank. She is in great health with no children and looks like a respectable 50+ ( biased I know ). I'm also financially stable but it is my understanding that my situation isn't a concern in regards to her visa.

Anybody out there have an opinion on the above? What issues might I expect?

It says above for immigrant visas they have suspended processing. If you intend to take your wife to USA to immigrate, then the article explains it, it isn’t going to happen.

It mentions nothing of tourism visas.

1 hour ago, sharot724 said:

link please ...

Reading and comprehension difficulties,sharot?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Applicants who are older, overweight, or previously relied on government cash assistance could face rejection.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

How many Americans are going on the dole in Thailand?

Here's the key, from the OP: aiming to prevent the entry of individuals deemed likely to become a public charge.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"Applicants who are older, overweight, or previously relied on government cash assistance could face rejection."

Looks like most of them.

Hopefully Thailand reciprocates.

I guess Thailand knows now where they stand with the US.

Cambodia

Indonesia ✅

Laos

Myanmar

Philippines ✅

Thailand

Vietnam ✅

I wonder how many will think that the suspension/ban applies to tourist visas, as opposed to those seeking to emigrate to the US. Many might see 'USA suspends visa processing for Thailand' and think everyone is banned. That's how a Thai family member here read it at first.

29 minutes ago, atpeace said:

My wife (marriage not registered but could be if needed ) needs to start the visa process and hope this won't complicate things. She isn't wealthy but has multiple properties and rental income (15-25k). Also has 1-2 million in the bank. She is in great health with no children and looks like a respectable 50+ ( biased I know ). I'm also financially stable but it is my understanding that my)situation isn't a concern in regards to her visa.

Anybody out there have an opinion on the above? What issues might I expect?

Does she want to take her Thai brother ( husband ) with her. 🤣😂🤣

1 hour ago, sharot724 said:

link please ...

1 hour ago, sharot724 said:

link please ...

here's your link .....right here..

Well if Thailand reciprocates and makes age / weight (obesity) a requirement for visa renewals, I think Pattaya will become a ghost town. I better get on an overdue weight loss program or else I'm screwed, not in a good way.

57 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

I have been demanding that Thailand give me free housing, free health care, and free money every month, as all the immigrant freeloaders get in the USA, the EU, and the UK.....

So far I have not got a single baht out of the Thai government....

Expats in Thailand in Thailand need to unite and demand they give us free stuff.......lol

Expats are not immigrants. The non in the non o immigrant visa will give you a clue.

Expats are long term tourists at best, and this status could change at the whim of the government of the day.

I bet FIFA are devasted they gave the U.S the world cup

34 minutes ago, atpeace said:

My wife (marriage not registered but could be if needed ) needs to start the visa process and hope this won't complicate things. She isn't wealthy but has multiple properties and rental income (15-25k). Also has 1-2 million in the bank. She is in great health with no children and looks like a respectable 50+ ( biased I know ). I'm also financially stable but it is my understanding that my situation isn't a concern in regards to her visa.

Anybody out there have an opinion on the above? What issues might I expect?

Many of us are hoping that this won't affect spousal visas. When she applied previously she got a 10-year multiple entry and all they were interested in seeing was my passport, to determine that I travel back and forth from Thailand to the US frequently. Hopefully that will remain the same.

Any info anyone might have would be helpful.

As a Yank, let me say - America doesn't look like America

masked losers/cowards kidnapping moms is a bad look, they took some autistic lady out of her car yesterday, she was a citizen and it took 6 cowards to drag her out. Only to release her down the road away from the cameras.

Trash humans one and all, only the Cult likes what daddy is doing but they are dumb anyway

1 minute ago, Asquith Production said:

I bet FIFA are devasted they gave the U.S the world cup

their loss, hopefully every other country boycotts it, same as for the '28 Olympics which will surely have a 1936 Berlin feel to it

35 minutes ago, atpeace said:

My wife (marriage not registered but could be if needed ) needs to start the visa process and hope this won't complicate things. She isn't wealthy but has multiple properties and rental income (15-25k). Also has 1-2 million in the bank. She is in great health with no children and looks like a respectable 50+ ( biased I know ). I'm also financially stable but it is my understanding that my situation isn't a concern in regards to her visa.

Anybody out there have an opinion on the above? What issues might I expect?

just as a referece point it took me over 8 months with a $$$ high profile lawyer to get a K1 visa done and that was about 18years ago

your situation she has $$$ and strong ties to return puts you in a favorable position .. ..just a matter of when they resume allowing applications to be processed ,.. looks like a dead stop right now

Totally agree with you Jai Yen. Things will not change until the fascists are out of power.

19 minutes ago, shdmn said:

Hopefully Thailand reciprocates.

It's already virtually impossible to be an immigrant in Thailand. Almost all visas are "non-immigrant".