IN A FACEBOOK post the US embassy said today (March 27) that as of Jan. 21, 2026 the United States has paused issuing immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries including Thailand.
Immigrants from these countries have a high rate of collecting public assistance at the expense of US taxpayers, the embassy said, adding applicants may still submit applications and attend interviews but no visa will be issued during this pause.
Important exceptions apply: Dual nationals with valid passports from unlisted countries are exempt. Children adopted by American families can also qualify for exceptions, including National Interest Exceptions under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
The State Department listed the 75 countries as follows:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, 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, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page – A representative image of a visa by Aum Global from Pixabay
Insert – Map of 75 countries included in US immigrant visa pause. Blue: USA, Maroon: Visa processing paused. Created by Brilliantmap.com
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