US halts immigrant visas for Thailand, 74 others under review

The United States is pausing immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including Thailand, in a bid to crack down on applicants deemed likely to become a public charge, Fox News reported today.

The suspension, which will begin on January 21, was decided as the US State Department reassesses screening and vetting procedures under existing immigration law.

The move is aimed at preventing the entry of applicants considered likely to rely on public benefits in the United States.

A State Department memo instructs consular officers worldwide to refuse visas under current legal provisions while the department conducts a comprehensive review. The pause will remain in effect indefinitely until the reassessment is completed.

Apart from Thailand, other ASEAN countries affected by the suspension include Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Other countries named in the report include Russia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria and Yemen.

In November 2025, a State Department cable sent to US diplomatic posts worldwide instructed consular officers to enforce stricter screening rules under the so-called “public charge” provision of immigration law.

The guidance directs officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to depend on public assistance, based on factors such as health, age, English-language proficiency, financial status and the potential need for long-term medical care.

Under the guidance, older or overweight applicants could face denial, as could those with any prior use of government cash assistance or a history of institutionalisation.

“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement.

While the public charge provision has existed for decades, its enforcement has varied widely across US administrations, with consular officers traditionally given broad discretion in applying the standard.

Officials said exceptions to the new pause would be “very limited” and granted only after applicants have cleared public charge considerations, according to Fox News.