President Trump Announces Expanded Travel Ban

 

The Trump Administration has issued a new presidential proclamation significantly expanding U.S. travel and visa restrictions. The new proclamation will take effect on January 1, 2026, and represents the largest expansion of U.S. entry restrictions since 2017. The order adds numerous new countries, particularly in Africa, to the restricted list, modifies existing restrictions, and removes several exemptions that had been available under the prior proclamation.

As with the June 2025 travel ban, the new proclamation imposes both full and partial suspensions of visa issuance. In all cases, the restrictions apply only to individuals who are outside the U.S. and who do not already hold a valid U.S. visa as of the effective date. The proclamation does not revoke visas that were issued prior to January 1, 2026.

For countries subject to a full suspension, their citizens are barred from being issued any immigrant or nonimmigrant visa to enter the U.S., unless they qualify for a narrow exception. Individuals from fully restricted countries who are outside the U.S. and do not already have a valid visa as of January 1, 2026, will generally be unable to obtain a visa to enter the United States. 

Under the new proclamation, nationals of the following seven countries will be subject to a full suspension of entry:

  • Burkina Faso 

  • Laos (previously partially restricted)

  • Mali

  • Niger

  • Sierra Leone (previously partially restricted)

  • South Sudan

  • Syria

In addition, foreign nationals seeking to travel using Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents are subject to this full restriction. 

The following countries, which were subject to full restrictions under the June 2025 travel ban, remain fully suspended:

  • Afghanistan

  • Burma

  • Chad

  • Republic of Congo

  • Equatorial Guinea

  • Eritrea

  • Haiti

  • Iran

  • Libya

  • Somalia

  • Sudan

  • Yemen

Under a partial suspension, all immigrant visa issuance is suspended, preventing affected nationals from obtaining green cards through consular processing. In addition, issuance of certain nonimmigrant visas (specifically B visitor visas, F and M student visas, and J exchange visitor visas) is suspended. 

Nationals of partially suspended countries may still be eligible for other nonimmigrant visa categories, such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, or E visas, if otherwise qualified. However, even if eligible, the proclamation directs consular officers to sharply limit these nonimmigrant visa validities. 

Under the new proclamation, nationals of the following 15 countries will be subject to a partial suspension of entry:

  • Angola

  • Antigua and Barbuda

  • Benin

  • Cote d‘Ivoire

  • Dominica

  • Gabon

  • The Gambia

  • Malawi

  • Mauritania

  • Nigeria

  • Senegal

  • Tanzania

  • Tonga

  • Zambia

  • Zimbabwe

The following countries, which were subject to partial restrictions under the June 2025 travel ban, remain partially suspended:

  • Burundi

  • Cuba

  • Togo

  • Venezuela

Turkmenistan is the only country for which certain restrictions have been eased. Under the June 2025 travel ban, Turkmenistan was subject to both immigrant visa suspension and partial nonimmigrant restrictions. Under the new proclamation, nationals of Turkmenistan may be issued nonimmigrant visas in all categories, including B, F, M, and J, although immigrant visa issuance remains suspended unless an exception applies.

As with prior travel bans, the following individuals are exempt from these restrictions:

  • Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders);

  • Dual nationals (if traveling on a passport from a non-designated country); 

  • Refugees, asylees and individuals granted Withholding of Removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture; 

  • Diplomats and NATO personnel on A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO‑2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6 visas;

  • Any athlete, members of an athletic team, coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event;

  • Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees;

  • Immigrant visa applicants who are ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran; and

  • Individuals whose entry is deemed in the national interest by the US Attorney General or Secretary of State.

Individuals who qualify for an exemption are not subject to the travel ban and should be able to apply for visas and seek entry to the United States, although they may still experience increased screening, delays, or other obstacles in the visa application process.

However, the new proclamation removes several exemptions that were included in the June 2025 travel ban. Effective January 1, 2026, the following exemptions will no longer be available:

  • Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders;

  • Spouses, children (under 21), or parents of US citizens who are at least 21 years old; and

  • Adoption-related immigrant visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4). 

Foreign nationals currently subject to the June 2025 travel ban will remain subject to those restrictions until the new proclamation takes effect on January 1, 2026.

At this time, there has been no confirmation as to whether nationals of, or individuals born in, countries newly added to the travel ban list will be subject to USCIS’s recent pause on immigration benefit processing applicable to individuals from June 2025 travel ban countries.

We will continue to monitor this development and provide updates as additional guidance becomes available.

This alert is for informational purposes only. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this development further.

 
Nadia Yakoob