The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sought clarification from the United States about its decision to suspend immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Thailand. Following a meeting with the US Embassy's chargé d'affaires, Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow expressed the government's need for a comprehensive explanation, noting the lack of prior warning about this abrupt move.

The Embassy's chargé d'affaires indicated that full details are yet to be received from the US Department of State. They promised to share further information with Thailand and the public as soon as it becomes available. Currently, the suspension is said to apply solely to immigrant visas, which are crucial for those seeking permanent residence and ultimately American citizenship.

Mr Sihasak clarified that non-immigrant visas for Thai students, businesspeople, and tourists remain unaffected. He mentioned that US officials linked the suspension to President Donald Trump's "America First" policy, underscoring a shift in focus towards supporting American citizens before permanent immigrants.

However, the inclusion of Thailand in the list has raised concerns, given the relatively low number of illegal Thai immigrants in the US. Mr Sihasak underscored the positive contributions of Thai nationals to the American economy through legal employment, business ownership, and investments made by major Thai corporations in the US, which support American jobs.

Mr Sihasak voiced the necessity of clarity and better coordination among US government agencies. "They say we must move forward together, but this action seems inconsistent with that message," he added, reported the Bangkok Post.

Key Takeaways:

• Thailand seeks a detailed explanation from the US on visa suspension.

• Suspension affects only immigrant visas, not non-immigrant categories.

• Concerns raised over policy's alignment with prior US-Thai cooperation messages.

Related Story

US Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for Thailand

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2026-01-16

 

 

So do the same to them..less loud mouth yanks would be a positive move..

America will return back to civility once the current convicted rapist and his thugs are out of office.

6 minutes ago, Johno57 said:

So do the same to them..less loud mouth yanks would be a positive move..

"Fewer" loud mouth yanks.

So for an example of correct usage, less ignorance, fewer ignoramuses.

Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow expressed the government's need for a comprehensive explanation,

It's to stop people entering USA with limited funds, then claiming off the welfare system and medical services..

Simple explanation : if you go to USA as a tourist you fund yourself for any eventuality.

If you intend to stay for an extended period of time, have finances in place and medical insurance.

14 minutes ago, Johno57 said:

So do the same to them..less loud mouth yanks would be a positive move..

How many “loud mouth yanks” have been immigrant visas by Thailand this year or past years? ZERO. You are out of your intellectual depth in a parking lot puddle.

An estimated 55,000 Thais have received US citizenship over the past ten years. During that same time, less than 100 Americans have received Thai citizenship. Thailand only allocates around 100 applications per year for each separate nationality to apply for permanent residence. The number receiving PR, however, is in the single digits for applicants. In recent years between 6000 and 10,000 Thais have been granted PR (Green Cards) in the US. So what is this guy complaining about? Would he like it if it became standard US policy to only give as many green cards to Thais as the number of PR received by Americans in Thailand?

BTW I asked AI to generate similar figures for the UK and Australia and how many Thais received PR and then citizenship there. Here is the response:

UK : Thai nationals are not among the top nationalities for grants of permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain or settlement) or citizenship in the UK, based on Home Office data. This suggests the numbers are relatively low compared to leading countries like India, Pakistan, and Nigeria. Specific breakdowns for Thailand are not prominently featured in summary statistics, indicating grants are likely below 1,000 annually for each category. Estimates based on historical trends (e.g., early 2000s data showing small numbers of naturalizations, mostly through marriage) suggest:

Category	Estimated Annual Grants (Recent Years, e.g., 2024-2025)
Permanent Residency	Fewer than 500 (not in top 20 nationalities, where lowest is ~1,000-2,000) gov.uk +1
Citizenship	Fewer than 1,000 (not in top 10 nationalities, where lowest is ~5,000-7,000) gov.uk +1

Australia: Data for Thai nationals is more available, though recent comprehensive breakdowns are limited to certain streams. Permanent residency grants (total Migration Program places) have varied, with recent figures focused on the Family stream. Citizenship conferrals (by conferral) are also low relative to top nationalities like India and New Zealand but show consistent numbers.

Category	Annual Grants (Selected Recent Years)
Permanent Residency	2023-24: ~1,762 (Family stream only; total likely 2,000-3,000 including Skill stream) homeaffairs.gov.au ; 2022-23: 1,862 (Family) homeaffairs.gov.au ; 2020-21: 4,002 (total) homeaffairs.gov.au ; 2019-20: 1,979 (total) homeaffairs.gov.au . Average ~2,500 in pre-2022 years.
Citizenship	Not in top 10 for 2024-25 (lowest top-10 ~5,000; likely <5,000) homeaffairs.gov.au ; 2021-22: 2,091 homeaffairs.gov.au ; 2020-21 partial: 1,085 aph.gov.au . Average ~1,500-2,000 in recent years.

Glad there is some clarification on what visas are having the processing temporarily suspended (Immigrant Visa)

Non-immigrant visas for "Thai students, businesspeople, and tourists remain unaffected." According to this article.

People overreact sometimes as this is only a Temporary Suspension while the process, specifications and qualifications are being reviewed and amended.

And as for PR and citizenship for Thais in China, since 2004, according to AI, the total numbers are between 0 and 10. But that hasn't led to any questions from Thailand's MFA and subsequently allowing PRC Chinese to run rampant crime rings all throughout Thailand. So what does all this indicate? The US has provided the most generous PR and citizenship processes for Thais than any other nation, despite all the hostility, anger, and insults being thrown towards Americans from nationals of other countries who don't do even fractionally as much as the US in allowing Thais to immigrate.

Totally agree with it. The Don's sussed them out. 👍👍

What’s to clarify? It’s simple. But Thai officials think they’re special.

2 hours ago, mberbae said:

America will return back to civility once the current convicted rapist and his thugs are out of office.

I certainly wish that would be the case, it will certainly return to a semblance of reasonable and coherent policy, but it could take decades to repair the damage that this insane street thug has imposed on the American people and the world.

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

An estimated 55,000 Thais have received US citizenship over the past ten years. During that same time, less than 100 Americans have received Thai citizenship. Thailand only allocates around 100 applications per year for each separate nationality to apply for permanent residence. The number receiving PR, however, is in the single digits for applicants. In recent years between 6000 and 10,000 Thais have been granted PR (Green Cards) in the US. So what is this guy complaining about? Would he like it if it became standard US policy to only give as many green cards to Thais as the number of PR received by Americans in Thailand?

The US benefits greatly by granting citizenship to Thai nationals as most of them work very hard, for lower wages than the average American.

Thailand would benefit greatly by offering citizenship to foreign nationals as they're bringing in three to five times the amount of money per month as the average Thai earns, but the government here are simply too thick and too fearful to understand that kind of a concept.

Thailand could consider some slogans like Make Thailand Great Again and Thailand First. Then follow the Trump model by evicting Americans.

Won't happen because Thailand is more respectful.

3 hours ago, Johno57 said:

So do the same to them..less loud mouth yanks would be a positive move..

Thailand already don't offer USA citizens this type of visa.

Thailand only really offer foreigners various types of tourist visa, essentially. The USA still offer Thai people tourist visas.

26 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Thailand could consider some slogans like Make Thailand Great Again and Thailand First. Then follow the Trump model by evicting Americans.

Won't happen because Thailand is more respectful.

Is there a US policy to evict Thais from the US? Meanwhile, Thailand already evicts Americans (and other nationalities) when they are caught violating Thai immigration law.

27 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Thailand could consider some slogans like Make Thailand Great Again and Thailand First. Then follow the Trump model by evicting Americans.

Won't happen because Thailand is more respectful.

Thailand have done that forever.

And Thailand evict people who are in the country illegally every day.

Thai peopel don't protest against their officials evicting people in Thailand illegally.

3 hours ago, mberbae said:

America will return back to civility once the current convicted rapist and his thugs are out of office.

If that happens. This must be what Americans want, their Congressional elected representatives are not stopping and a nationwide protest is not turning out enough citizens to grind things to a halt. I support a BOYCOTT of travel to the USA and SANCTIONS to be placed on the top trump administrators. RESIST anyway you possibly are able!

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow expressed the government's need for a comprehensive explanation,

It's to stop people entering USA with limited funds, then claiming off the welfare system and medical services..

Simple explanation : if you go to USA as a tourist you fund yourself for any eventuality.

If you intend to stay for an extended period of time, have finances in place and medical insurance.

Not even Americans have enough funds to provide for any eventuality in a country where medical need results in bankruptcy. Our economic squeeze on the working middle class is not the result of immigrants but rather the 3conomic policies of both parties over the last half century plus.

35 minutes ago, bananafish said:

Thailand have done that forever.

And Thailand evict people who are in the country illegally every day.

Thai peopel don't protest against their officials evicting people in Thailand illegally.

Kingdom of Thailand deporting and current USA policies/actions are not the same. Otherwise you would have certain Thai cities targeted for having political opposition.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

The US benefits greatly by granting citizenship to Thai nationals as most of them work very hard, for lower wages than the average American.

Thailand would benefit greatly by offering citizenship to foreign nationals as they're bringing in three to five times the amount of money per month as the average Thai earns, but the government here are simply too thick and too fearful to understand that kind of a concept.

Do you have any economic data to support your conclusion on the contribution of Thai nationals?

A large number of the Thais are able to obtain the citizenship based upon family ties. Spouses, children and parents. As such, it is logical to conclude that a significant number will not be contributing as you claim. On the contrary, the children require access to social services such as healthcare and education. The demographic data supports this conclusion showing that a majority of "Thai" people in the USA are of mixed heritage, i.e. children of US national and Thai relationships. The spouses will most likely not be working. The parents will not be working. Some will come from the wealthy Thai families and will establish themselves as a fall back bolthole and will not remain in the USA once the citizenship is finalized.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

I certainly wish that would be the case, it will certainly return to a semblance of reasonable and coherent policy, but it could take decades to repair the damage that this insane street thug has imposed on the American people and the world.

Agree and observe that unless/until the underlying income/wealth gap is addressed in a meaningful way … the madness is bound to continue. IMHO

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

The US benefits greatly by granting citizenship to Thai nationals as most of them work very hard, for lower wages than the average American.

Thailand would benefit greatly by offering citizenship to foreign nationals as they're bringing in three to five times the amount of money per month as the average Thai earns, but the government here are simply too thick and too fearful to understand that kind of a concept.

Agreed. What do you think? Would I have a shot at asking for Asylum, given the current USA administration?

48 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Do you have any economic data to support your conclusion on the contribution of Thai nationals?

A large number of the Thais are able to obtain the citizenship based upon family ties. Spouses, children and parents. As such, it is logical to conclude that a significant number will not be contributing as you claim. On the contrary, the children require access to social services such as healthcare and education. The demographic data supports this conclusion showing that a majority of "Thai" people in the USA are of mixed heritage, i.e. children of US national and Thai relationships. The spouses will most likely not be working. The parents will not be working. Some will come from the wealthy Thai families and will establish themselves as a fall back bolthole and will not remain in the USA once the citizenship is finalized.

Well there's no such thing as free health care in America so that claim is going to be immediately shot down, granted they could go to a County Hospital and they may or may not be admitted, but they won't get a significant amount of treatment without being on a healthcare plan or without having Medicaid, which they can only get with a substantial contribution to the system.

11 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Well there's no such thing as free health care in America so that claim is going to be immediately shot down, granted they could go to a County Hospital and they may or may not be admitted, but they won't get a significant amount of treatment without being on a healthcare plan or without having Medicaid, which they can only get with a substantial contribution to the system.

US law does require any hospital that takes Medicare payments (which is just about all of them) to provide emergency medical care to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay. It is for emergencies and the patient must be treated in hospital emergency wings and the hospital of course can bill the patient afterwards. Of course, if you can't pay, you can't pay. Hospitals may not refuse patients, dump them at other hospitals, or otherwise deny them care until they are stabilized. This includes things such as ongoing kidney dialysis.

1 minute ago, John Drake said:

US law does require any hospital that takes Medicare payments (which is just about all of them) to provide emergency medical care to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay. It is for emergencies and the patient must be treated in hospital emergency wings and the hospital of course can bill the patient afterwards. Of course, if you can't pay, you can't pay. Hospitals may not refuse patients, dump them at other hospitals, or otherwise deny them care until they are stabilized. This includes things such as ongoing kidney dialysis.

There is absolutely no sympathy for hospitals in the US which overcharge to a farcical and nearly surrealist degree. And when they suffer these kind of losses it's like unlikely that the government comes to their rescue.

So you have a criminal organization being taken for some cash, who really cares?

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

There is absolutely no sympathy for hospitals in the US which overcharge to a farcical and nearly surrealist degree. And when they suffer these kind of losses it's like unlikely that the government comes to their rescue.

So you have a criminal organization being taken for some cash, who really cares?

I agree that hospitals and insurance companies are modern day pirates. I think Medicare for all would be the right policy. I'm just pointing out that Thai nationals, even in the US illegally, will get medical care if they require emergency care. Use the example above of kidney dialysis. I don't know how available kidney dialysis is throughout Thailand. Can poor Thais receive it? I do know if they go to the US, they will receive it. Granted, it mostly is only on an emergency basis, which means after treatment they must wait for another build up in bodily toxins until the emergency becomes an emergency. But if that is more than Thailand provides, which I don't know, that would be a reason for Thais to go to the US, illegally or not. BTW, California, New York, Illinois, and Colorado even provide expanded and regularly scheduled outpatient care for illegals who then need not wait for emergency conditions.

BTW, the issue of kidney dialysis in Thailand interested me--about 20 years ago I took care of my mother in her scheduled dialysis treatments. Anyway, what I discovered over the past few minutes is that Thailand indeed does have excellent coverage for kidney dialysis, regardless of a person's ability to pay. And it covers remote impoverished areas thoroughly. The default treatment, however, is peritoneal dialysis, especially for people in remote areas who cannot get to clinics. So those patients are set up for home dialysis. The problem there, of course, is that an elderly Thai with a 6th grade education living in a hot humid sometimes decrepit home is going to have problems with PD. Not the least of which is contamination due to lack of sterile conditions and hygiene issues--not to mention help needed in doing in-home PD. In short, in home treatment usually lasts only for a year before switching to clinic bound hemodialysis. Mortality rates are high as well. And the old and poor still need some way to get to the clinics. The situation is far better than I thought it was, although it still has big drawbacks. It's good to see Thailand invest in something like that. This means that kidney dialysis is not a reason for Thais to try and immigrate to the US.

I'd reciprocate first (no more Thai visas for American citizens, with immediate effect) and ask questions later. That's the only language the current US administration understands.