New U.S. Travel Restrictions

A new presidential proclamation has created major limits on travel to the United States for people from more than twenty countries. These restrictions affect both tourist and immigrant visas and may impact individuals who are planning to visit, study, work, or reunite with family in the United States.

This summary explains what the new rules mean, who is affected, and what exceptions may apply.

1. Countries With a Full Suspension of Entry

For some countries, the U.S. government has completely suspended entry. This means people from these countries cannot enter the United States with any type of visa, unless they qualify for one of the specific exceptions listed later.

The government says it based these decisions on high visa overstay rates, security concerns, lack of reliable government records, or lack of cooperation with the United States.

Countries with a Full Ban:

  • Afghanistan – Government instability, lack of reliable documents, and very high visa overstay rates.

  • Burma (Myanmar) – High overstay rates and refusal to accept deported nationals.

  • Chad – Extremely high overstay rates in recent years.

  • Republic of the Congo – High overstay rates for tourists and students.

  • Equatorial Guinea – Very high overstay rate for students and exchange visitors.

  • Eritrea – Concerns about document reliability and refusal to accept deportees.

  • Haiti – High overstay rates, lack of law-enforcement cooperation, and recent large migration flows.

  • Iran – Designated as a state sponsor of terrorism and lack of cooperation on security issues.

  • Libya – No functioning central authority and historic terrorist activity.

  • Somalia – Government instability, terrorist activity, lack of document controls, and refusal to accept deportees.

  • Sudan – Weak document controls and high overstay rates.

  • Yemen – No central authority, lack of vetting, and active U.S. military operations.

If you are from one of these countries and do not qualify for an exception, you cannot receive a U.S. visa and cannot enter the United States.

2. Countries With Partial Suspensions

Some countries face partial restrictions. People from these countries cannot enter the United States if they are applying for:

  • Tourist or business visas (B-1/B-2)

  • Student visas (F and M)

  • Exchange visitor visas (J)

  • Immigrant visas

For all other types of visas, the U.S. government will issue shorter-validity visas, meaning they may expire sooner than usual.

Countries with Partial Bans:

  • Burundi

  • Cuba

  • Laos

  • Sierra Leone

  • Togo

  • Turkmenistan

  • Venezuela

These restrictions are based on high visa overstay rates, security concerns, and, in some cases, refusal to accept deported nationals.

3. Who the Restrictions Apply To

The suspensions apply only to people who:

  1. Were outside the United States on the date the proclamation took effect, and

  2. Did not already have a valid U.S. visa on that date.

If you already have a valid visa, this proclamation does not cancel it.

If you are already inside the United States, these entry bans do not apply to you, although leaving the U.S. could put you at risk of being unable to return.

4. Important Exceptions

Even if you are from one of the affected countries, you may still be able to travel if you fall into one of these categories:

  • Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders)

  • Dual nationals traveling with a passport from a country not on the restricted list

  • Certain diplomatic, government, and NATO visa holders (A, C-2, C-3, G, NATO classes)

  • Athletes and their support teams traveling for major international events (such as the Olympics or World Cup)

  • Immediate family visas (IR-1/CR-1 spouse, IR-2/CR-2 child, IR-5 parent) if there is strong proof of identity and relationship (sometimes including DNA)

  • Adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4)

  • Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants

  • Special Immigrant Visas for employees of the U.S. government

  • Certain immigrant visas for persecuted ethnic and religious minorities from Iran

5. Case-by-Case National-Interest Waivers

Two agencies may approve discretionary waivers:

  • Attorney General – For individuals whose presence is necessary for U.S. criminal proceedings or other justice-related interests.

  • Secretary of State – For individuals whose travel would serve a broader U.S. national interest.

These waivers are not automatic and require coordination with DHS. Attorneys representing clients seeking these waivers should prepare robust evidence addressing national-interest criteria.