The US Embassy in Thailand posted on Facebook about the indefinite suspension of permanent visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries, including Thailand, following an announcement by the US Department of State on 21 Jan 2026 GMT+7. The reason cited was to improve screening and background check procedures to comprehensively address the "public charge" provisions under US immigration law.
The US Embassy Bangkok posted on Facebook that the United States has suspended the issuance of permanent visas to nationals of 75 countries, including Thailand, stating that
"Starting 21 January 2026 GMT+7, the US Department of State will suspend all permanent visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries, including Thailand. Immigrants from these countries have higher rates of public benefit use, imposing costs on US taxpayers. Applicants from affected countries may still file visa petitions and attend interviews as usual, but no permanent visas will be issued during the suspension period."
An important exception: applicants holding dual nationality with a valid passport from a country not on the list will be exempt. Children in the process of US adoption by American families are also exempted under Presidential Proclamation 10998 for national interest reasons.
The affected countries cover many regions worldwide, including Thailand, as well as countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. These include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ivory Coast, 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, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
.SourceU.S. Embassy Bangkok