Thai Nationals Eligible for Reconsideration Amid Court Ruling on US Visa Pause

A US federal court has struck down a policy that paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, including Thailand, since January 2026.

The ruling, issued August 21, 2026, by Judge Jeannette Vargas of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in the case CLINIC v. Rubio, directly affects Thai nationals pursuing CR-1 and IR-1 spousal visas to join American citizen spouses in the United States.

The US Department of State announced the pause in January 2026, citing concerns about public charge risk under Section 221(g) of US immigration law.