VIENTIANE: The United States will fully suspend visa issuance to Lao citizens holding ordinary passports from Jan 1, 2026, following a new executive order signed by US President Donald Trump.
The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed Lao citizens not to apply for the visa, citing the new US measure under the executive order issued on Tuesday (Dec 16).
Laos is among 19 countries now facing full visa restrictions, after previously being subject to partial limits.
Under the new rules, Lao ordinary passport holders will not be able to obtain US visas for any purpose.
The suspension covers travel for tourism, business, work, training and study, as well as participation in internships, seminars and exchange programmes.
Family-based immigration is also affected, including applications by spouses, fiancé(e)s, adoptive children and other relatives.
The Lao ministry said in a press release that the US will not consider visa issuance in these categories during the restriction period.
It warns Lao citizens not to submit visa applications or pay any related fees during this period, saying applicants will face a high risk of rejection and may lose visa fees without obtaining a visa.
Lao citizens holding diplomatic and official passports are exempt from the ban and may still travel to the United States on a case-by-case basis.
Such travel includes diplomatic duties, attendance at international conferences and other official business, subject to approval by the host country.
The suspension marks a sharp tightening of US entry rules and is expected to affect education, family ties, and people-to-people links between the two countries. - Vientiane Times/ANN
