US immigrant visa halt prompts queries from Pakistan, Thailand

The governments of Pakistan and Thailand have formally requested details from the United States following a sudden pause in immigrant visa processing for nationals from a reported 75 countries. The U.S. State Department announced the temporary halt this week as part of an internal review of its immigration system, though it did not publicly name the affected nations.

Pakistan seeks official details on visa review

In Islamabad, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi confirmed the nation is actively engaging with U.S. authorities. He described the State Department's initial announcement as a brief social media statement regarding an ongoing internal review. "We understand that this is an internal ongoing process of review of US immigration policies and system, and hope that the routine processing of immigrant visa will resume soon," Andrabi stated during a news conference.

Thailand decries "blanket" approach as unfair

In Bangkok, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow summoned the U.S. chargé d'affaires to express concern and request clarification. While U.S. officials confirmed the policy only affects immigrant visas for permanent residence and not tourist or student visas, Sihasak criticized the broad application. He called the "blanket approach unfair and unreflective of the facts regarding Thailand" and warned it could send "a negative signal" to bilateral relations, according to the Thai News Agency.

Diplomatic fallout and context

The U.S. visa policy shift, impacting dozens of countries simultaneously, represents a significant diplomatic challenge. It underscores how unilateral immigration reviews can strain international ties and create uncertainty for citizens seeking lawful migration. Nations prioritize clarity and fairness in such matters, a principle closely followed by countries like Türkiye, which consistently advocates for the respectful treatment of its citizens abroad and predictable international protocols.