Bangkok raises concerns after being included in US visa pause list

Thailand has questioned the reasons behind the US decision to include it among 75 countries facing a pause in immigrant visa processing, saying the move raises concerns about fairness, transparency and consistency in bilateral relations.

Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said on Thursday that he raised the concerns during a meeting with the US chargé d’affaires.

The Foreign Ministry invited the US diplomat to seek clarification on the rationale behind the decision, Sihasak said at a press briefing after the meeting.

Bangkok understands that the suspension applies only to immigrant visas, which are intended for long-term work or permanent residency and may later lead to US permanent residence.

Other visa categories, including student, tourist and short-term business visas, are not affected.

The US diplomat told the minister that she would seek further information on the issue, as she was not fully aware of the details.

She clarified that the measure is temporary and pending a review process. As a result, the future status of the suspension remains uncertain, and normal visa processing could potentially be restored once the review is completed.

Sihasak said he questioned how the list of affected countries was compiled. “The 75 countries were grouped together without sufficient differentiation. Each country should be assessed individually based on its specific circumstances,” he said.

The foreign minister expressed concern and discomfort over what he described as an inappropriate blanket approach, stressing that Thailand is not the same as many other countries on the list.

He said it was unclear why countries were not assessed on a case-by-case basis, which would be a more appropriate method.

The number of Thais living illegally in the United States may not be large compared with some countries that are geographically closer to the US, while there are countries that may face more serious issues than Thailand yet are not included on the list.

Many Thais in the United States earn an honest living, including doctors and nurses, working in various professions and running restaurants, which help attract tourists to the US, he said.

“For these reasons, we question the rationale behind such a blanket announcement and what it is really based on. The US side should clarify this matter, because it currently sends the wrong signal regarding Thai-US relations,” Sihasak said.

He noted that Michael DeSombre, the US assistant secretary of state, recently visited Thailand and told Thai officials that both sides should move the relationship forward.

“Thailand and the United States have a special relationship and are the longest-standing allies of the US in the region. Why, then, is Thailand on this list? We have the right to raise these questions, and the US chargé d’affaires understands this,” he said.

Sihasak added that the United States should take a broader view, noting that Thai companies such as Banpu and PTT have invested in the US, creating tens of thousands of jobs for Americans.

Looking ahead, under trade tariff agreements currently under negotiation, Thailand plans to invest more and increase purchases of US goods.

He questioned whether the visa suspension was worth the potential impact on Thai public sentiment and whether it ran counter to policies currently being pursued.

As such, he said, the US government would likely need to hold internal discussions to ensure a unified policy direction.