BANGKOK, THAILAND – A diplomatic rift shook relations after the United States abruptly halted immigrant visas for Thai citizens.
Thailand added to contentious US suspension list
The US State Department had published a list of 75 countries for which processing of immigrant visas was temporarily suspended, and Thailand was included. The measure affected applications for permanent residence or citizenship, while tourist, student and business visas were not impacted. Despite these exceptions, officials in Bangkok viewed the step as a deep symbolic blow.
“Why is Thailand, a long-standing ally, being lumped together with everyone else?”
said Sihasak Phuangketkeow, foreign minister.
Foreign minister confronts US envoy in tense meeting
The minister summoned the acting US ambassador in Thailand for an explanation, and the meeting was described as tense. The American diplomat offered little concrete information, acknowledging that he had not yet received detailed instructions from Washington. According to the stated US rationale, many applicants from certain countries were becoming too dependent on US social welfare, placing a burden on public finances.
Bangkok decries blanket treatment of 75 states
In the confrontation, Sihasak sharply criticized the decision as an unfair and undifferentiated blanket classification of 75 countries.
“Most Thais in the US work legally, often in restaurants and small businesses. They contribute to the economy,”
said Sihasak.
He also pointed to Thai companies investing in the United States and creating tens of thousands of jobs for Americans. For Bangkok, the move touched on Thailand’s national dignity, and the public was said to be expecting clear answers.
Strain on declared partnership with Washington
The minister expressed confusion over US policy, noting that a US deputy secretary of state in Bangkok had only recently emphasized the strengthening of the partnership. Now, he argued, the visa move seemed at odds with those assurances.
“Does this visa policy really reflect the close economic relations?”
asked Sihasak.
Analysts see domestic motives behind US move
Experts interpreted the suspension as a domestic political maneuver in the United States, aimed at saving money and reassuring voters at home. For Thai citizens hoping to move to the US on a long-term basis, it meant uncertainty and prolonged waiting times. The Thai government signaled it would maintain pressure to avoid being labeled a problem case.
Thailand urges calm in US-Venezuela tensions
In a separate statement, Thailand’s foreign ministry showed diplomatic tact by calling on the United States and Venezuela to act with restraint. The message was that Thailand would not interfere but was closely observing global developments. In the wake of the visa shock, Bangkok also sought to project resilience on the international stage.
Wider implications for allies and US immigration policy
The dispute underscored that even close allies were not immune to unexpected decisions from Washington. US officials portrayed the pause in Green Card processing for 75 states, including Thailand, as a review of the system and a response to concerns over strain on public services, rather than a permanent ban. In Thailand, however, the episode raised broader questions about whether immigration controls were becoming a political signal with unintended consequences for bilateral relations.