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Bangkok, Thailand – For Thai nationwide Khaochat Mankong, 2026 was meant to be the most important yr of her life.

After submitting the mandatory paperwork with the USA embassy in Bangkok, Khaochat, 27, was poised to begin a brand new life along with her American husband in California.

Final week, Khaochat watched these plans evaporate straight away as US President Donald Trump’s administration introduced an indefinite pause on the processing of immigrant visa functions from 75 international locations, together with Thailand.

The US Division of State mentioned it had suspended functions for the targetted international locations as a result of their migrants claimed welfare advantages at “unacceptable charges”.

“I’m shocked; I by no means thought they might intrude with everlasting visas or marriage visas,” Khaochat, an English tutor in Bangkok, advised Al Jazeera.

“However now every little thing needs to be paused for who is aware of what number of years.”

Khaochat mentioned she had hoped to lift a household within the US and had no intention of claiming any welfare advantages.

“In the event that they need to display screen individuals, then take a look at language capacity, verify monetary accounts,” she mentioned. “I’ve the language expertise, I’ve cash. Why ought to I be blocked from residing with the particular person I really like?”

Related tales of punctured goals have flooded Thai social media in latest days.

Married {couples} have expressed fears of being separated for the long run or having their kids denied the correct to remain.

Potential migrant staff have additionally voiced their dismay on the adjustments, which have put a freeze on EB-class employment visas in addition to the Okay-class spousal and dependent visas.

Songtham Artsomjit, 26, mentioned he may not see a pathway to the US after paying a Thai company $800 to begin the paperwork for an EB-3 unskilled work visa.

“I used to be going to work on an meeting line making flat-bed trailers in Wisconsin,” Artsomjit advised Al Jazeera, describing his plan as a hoped-for “turning level in life” that will result in everlasting residency.

“As a substitute, I’ve taken a job in a grocery store in Israel,” he mentioned, including that he was extra afraid of poverty than “the dangers of warfare there”.

Whereas some would-be migrants are holding on to hopes that the suspension will probably be lifted, Trump’s pause seems to be a part of a long-term technique to severely limit authorized migration to the US.

Thailand, one among solely two US treaty allies in Southeast Asia with a proper diplomatic relationship courting again to 1833, has expressed disappointment at being included on an inventory that features many a lot poorer, conflict-afflicted international locations resembling Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia and Myanmar.

Final week, International Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, a candidate for prime minister in Thailand’s basic elections subsequent month, mentioned he had met with US Cost D’Affairs Elizabeth J Konick to hunt clarification on the suspension.

Phuangketkeow mentioned he had queried the logic of together with Thais within the freeze, given their contributions to the US financial system and closeness of Washington and Bangkok’s ties, saying “these questions are usually not good for the connection.”

For a lot of Thais, the sense of injustice has been formed by the relative success of the Thai diaspora within the US, many of whom constructed profitable companies after migrating to take up low-paid jobs in eating places, warehouses and factories.

The median annual earnings of Thai-headed households in 2023 was $82,000, increased than the nationwide common of $75,000, based on the Pew Analysis Heart.

As soon as a key base within the US combat towards communism and, extra not too long ago, an ally towards China’s expansive claims within the South China Sea, Thailand has had an more and more strained relationship with its oldest treaty ally since Trump’s return to workplace.

Like different export-reliant international locations in Southeast Asia, Thailand has weathered important financial upheaval as a result of Trump’s tariffs.

Thai exports to the US have been topic to a 19 % tariff since August, whereas talks on a complete commerce deal have faltered over US calls for for opening the native market to its big meals producers.

“The Trump administration will not be respectful of the connection; it has a transactional worldview,” Phil Robertson, a US citizen primarily based in Thailand and the director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, advised Al Jazeera.

Robertson known as Trump’s coverage “crass and merciless” and predicted that the administration would “create so many hurdles and a lot crimson tape” that it might develop into unimaginable emigrate to the US.

Not all Thais take subject with the adjustments.

Noi, who lives along with her American husband in Niceville, Florida, mentioned she supported the Trump administration’s efforts to limit welfare claims by migrants.

“Ever for the reason that Trump administration, there have been efforts to cease utilizing our tax {dollars} to assist immigrants from varied international locations,” Noi, who holds a inexperienced card entitling her to dwell within the US completely, advised Al Jazeera.

“In fact, this impacts the assorted international locations which might be being banned. However individuals are waking up and seeing what’s been occurring.”

For Khaochat, the collapse of her goals is loaded with a bitter irony.

“My associate voted for Trump,” she mentioned.