How the Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies Affect K1 and Other US Visa Applications in Thailand

As a result of changes made to US immigration, you may find it more difficult and time-consuming to obtain a US visa from Thailand in 2025. Because of the Trump Administration’s directives, the US government has been revising its immigration policies to increase national security in the country. This may mean experiencing tougher screening procedures and entry requirements, especially for visas such as the US K1 Visa. 

If you want to secure a US Visa in Thailand with minimal risk of disruptions, understanding these new changes and how to adapt to them is a necessity.

Impact of New Immigration Policies on a US Visa Application

After these US immigration system updates, you may find yourself having to complete additional steps or provide extra documentation and personal information when applying for specific visas. Here is an in-depth rundown of each of the changes:

DS-160 Application Form Confirmation Required for Interview

When applying for a US Tourist Visa, a fiancé visa, or a student visa, you need to complete an additional requirement before attending your interview at the US Embassy in Bangkok or the US Consulate in Chiang Mai. You may also need to do this if you’re renewing a US visa under certain circumstances.  

You must now confirm that your DS-160 form has been completed before your interview by providing a printed copy of your confirmation page with a visible barcode. This barcode must be an exact match of the one you used to book the appointment in the first place. If the barcode is invalid or your DS-160 form is incomplete, you cannot attend the interview and must reschedule it. 

To attend your interview without any problems or delays, double-check that the barcode you used to schedule the appointment aligns with the one on your DS-160 confirmation page. On the day of the interview, print out and bring your confirmation page to the appointment. 

Updated Requirements for Interview Waiver Program

If you’ve applied for a US non-immigrant visa (such as a US B-1/B-2 Tourist Visa) and were approved, you might be eligible for the Interview Waiver Program for your next visa application. This program allows you to bypass the US visa interview requirement on any subsequent applications. 

However, as of 2025, the program has been revised. Before this change, you could skip the interview for subsequent US visa applications if you applied for the program less than 48 months after your previous visa expired. As of now, the window has been reduced to 12 months after your last visa’s expiry date. 

Additionally, you need to satisfy the following conditions:

• You must apply under the same visa category as the one that expired
• You must apply from your home country or your current legal country of residence
• You must exhibit no prior visa denials, unless these have been resolved or waived 
• You need to meet all the requirements for your desired visa category

Another thing to keep in mind is that consular officers are given more freedom to reject your waiver request. Even if you meet all the requirements for the waiver, the US Embassy may still demand you attend an interview if they deem it necessary. 

For a higher chance at skipping the interview while renewing, double-check that you meet all requirements as shown above and apply for the waiver program during the 12-month window. 

Increased Visa Fees

USCIS has also raised the fees for US visas, with the biggest change affecting B-1/B-2 tourist visas. If you’re applying for a US Tourist Visa, you’ll need to pay 185 USD instead of the previous 160 USD. While not a massive difference from the previous cost, you still need to prepare to pay a higher fee when completing your visa application.

It’s important to note that other US visas are also affected by the price increase, including:

• Family visas
• USCIS immigrant fees
• Affidavit of Support (Form I-864)
• Student visas
• Temporary and permanent employment visas
• And more

Greater Scrutiny for Transgender and Non-Binary Applicants From Thailand

If you identify as transgender or non-binary, you may be subject to increased scrutiny when applying for a US visa. US consular officers may request additional documentation or even outright reject your application if your birth gender is listed as different from your current one. This only applies to nationalities that require a US visa for legal access into the country.

As Thailand is not included as one of the 42 countries in the US Visa Waiver Program, you’ll be affected by this new policy as a Thai national. To avoid lengthier applications or risk being rejected, make sure to bring copies of any official documentation that confirms your identity whenever you’re applying for a visa or traveling to the United States. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements Revoked

If you’re applying for adjustment of status in the US, you no longer need a COVID-19 vaccination as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dropped this requirement. All that’s needed is to get a medical exam and complete Form I-693, which the doctor in charge of your exam will handle on your behalf. 

However, Form I-693 has not yet been updated, and therefore, the COVID-19 vaccination section is still present on the form. During your medical exam, you may notice your doctor either crossing out the section entirely or writing “N/A” on it. 

Certain Countries Impacted by New Travel Ban

To boost security measures in the United States, the government has implemented a travel ban on a total of 43 countries. If you’re from any of the countries on the list, you might find yourself facing difficulties traveling to the US. 

As the travel bans haven’t been fully implemented yet, only time will tell how long the bans will be in place. It has been separated into 3 different categories:

Red Category:

Countries falling under this category will receive a full visa suspension. If you’re from any of the 11 countries on this list, you will be prohibited from traveling to the United States:

• Africa: Libya, Somalia, Sudan 
• Asia: Bhutan, North Korea
• Middle East: Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Yemen
• North America: Cuba
• South America: Venezuela

Orange Category:

Countries in this category will receive a partial visa suspension. If you’re from any of the affected territories, your visa may be partially suspended. There are currently 10 countries on the list, which include:

• Africa: Eritrea, Sierra-Leone, South Sudan
• Asia: Laos, Myanmar, Turkmenistan
• Europe: Belarus, Russia
• Middle East: Pakistan
• North America: Haiti

Yellow Category:

Countries in the yellow category will be placed on a probationary period. These countries are given a chance to address any potential security issues or risk having a partial visa suspended if they fail to do so. There are a total of 22 countries in this section, which include:

• Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Zimbabwe     
• Asia: Cambodia
• North America: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia
• Oceania: Vanuatu

While Thailand is not listed in any of the categories, the list is still subject to change. There is also a chance that if you reside in, make frequent trips to, or have connections to anyone living in the countries affected by the travel ban, you may face greater scrutiny when applying for a US Visa. 

Professional Assistance in Getting a US Visa from Thailand

You may come across tougher regulations, stricter background checks, and tighter application assessments when applying for a US visa in 2025, which could result in a lengthier and more difficult experience. To avoid being rejected or having your visa delayed because of the new changes, reach out to Siam Legal’s US Visa Consultants for professional assistance with your application. 

As a full-service law firm and visa agency in Thailand, our consultants offer expert support in helping you secure your visa at every step of the process. We do this by managing your visa application on your behalf, from preparing all the right documents to submitting it to the correct authorities, to coaching you for the interview. By partnering with us, you’ll secure your visa quickly and smoothly and be able to plan your trip to the States without the stress and uncertainty.

Contact Siam Legal today to obtain a US visa and fulfill your dreams of visiting the United States without any disruptions.

Category: US Visa