Fox News says State Department is ‘reassessing its procedures’Listen to this articleThe US Department of State in November instructed consular officers worldwide to prepare to enforce sweeping new screening rules for visas. (Photo: Reuters)WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is preparing to suspend all visa processing ‌for visitors ​from 75 countries — including Thailand — starting on Jan 21, Fox News reported on Wednesday, citing a memo from the US State Department. Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria and Thailand are among ‌the affected countries, according to the report. The reported pause comes ‌amid ​the sweeping immigration crackdown being pursued by Republican President Donald Trump since taking office last January. The guidance instructs consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, weighing a wide range of factors including health, age, English proficiency, finances and even potential need for long-term medical care.

Source: Bangkok Post January 14, 2026 16:05 UTC