Presidential Proclamation Expands Travel Ban, Effective January 1, 2026

The U.S. government has issued a revised travel ban that takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on January 1, 2026, significantly expanding restrictions on visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries and individuals travelling with Palestinian Authority–issued travel documents.

Under the new presidential proclamation, immigrant and nonimmigrant visas are fully suspended for nationals of 19 countries, which now include seven newly added nations. An additional 19 countries face partial restrictions — limiting immigrant visas and certain nonimmigrant categories (e.g., B, F, M, J visas). One country, Turkmenistan, now faces only immigrant visa restrictions.

Importantly, the ban does not revoke existing visas or apply to foreign nationals already in the United States on January 1, 2026, with valid visas. Other exceptions include U.S. lawful permanent residents, dual nationals travelling on a non-designated passport, certain diplomats, and athletes travelling for major events.

This expanded travel ban marks one of the most sweeping visa restrictions in recent U.S. policy, with potential impacts on U.S. employers, and visa holders.

What are the countries subject to full restrictions

The proclamation adds seven countries to the existing 12 countries whose nationals are barred from both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance. The initial 12 countries with continued full visa restrictions are:

Afghanistan
Burma
Chad
Republic of Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Somalia
Sudan
Yemen

The proclamation adds the following seven countries to the full restriction list:

Burkina Faso
Laos (previously on the June travel ban “partially restricted” list)
Mali
Niger
Sierra Leone (previously on the June travel ban “partially restricted” list)
South Sudan
Syria

Additionally, foreign nationals who seek to travel to the United States using Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents will not be issued a U.S. nonimmigrant or immigrant visa under the new proclamation, unless eligible for an exception.

What are the countries subject to partial restrictions

For nationals of the following 19 countries, the new proclamation suspends immigrant visa issuance, as well as nonimmigrant visa issuance in only the B, F, M, and J visa classifications for temporary visitors, students, and exchange visitors:

Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Benin
Burundi (remains on the partial restriction list from the June travel ban)
Cote d’Ivoire
Cuba (remains on the partial restriction list from the June travel ban)
Dominica
Gabon
The Gambia
Malawi
Mauritania
Nigeria
Senegal
Tanzania
Togo (remains on the partial restriction list from the June travel ban)
Tonga
Venezuela (remains on the partial restriction list from the June travel ban)
Zambia
Zimbabwe

The proclamation also instructs consular officers to limit the validity period of visas issued to nationals of the affected countries in non-suspended nonimmigrant categories, such as H-1B and L-1. In practice, the State Department has already reduced visa validity for many of these countries to a maximum of three months with a single entry permitted. Similar restrictions are expected to be applied to additional countries on the list.

Turkmenistan is the only country for which certain restrictions have been eased under the new travel ban. Although the June proclamation suspended both immigrant visa issuance and nonimmigrant visas in the B, F, M, and J categories, the revised proclamation allows Turkmenistan nationals to obtain any type of nonimmigrant visa, including B, F, M, and J visas. However, immigrant visa issuance for Turkmenistan nationals remains suspended unless an applicable travel ban exception applies.

Scope of the Travel Ban

Under its terms, and subject to specific exceptions, the revised travel ban applies only to nationals of the listed countries who

(1) are outside the United States as of January 1, 2026, and

(2) do not hold a valid U.S. visa on that date.

Individuals with valid visas on January 1, 2026, may continue to use those visas for travel to the United States, as the proclamation expressly states that existing visas will not be revoked. However, such travelers may be subject to heightened screening at ports of entry, and some uncertainty may arise regarding the practical application of the visa exemption.

The exemption for individuals holding valid visas as of January 1, 2026, also suggests that they may be eligible to apply for new visas—either in the same or a different category—after that date and seek admission using those visas. Additionally, based on the language of the proclamation and interpretations of similar bans during the first Trump Administration, foreign nationals physically present in the United States on January 1, 2026, may likewise be exempt and able to apply for new visas after that date. That said, it remains unclear how these provisions will be implemented in practice, and caution is advised when planning international travel.

Foreign nationals subject to the June 2025 travel ban will continue to be governed by the restrictions set forth in that proclamation until the new, expanded travel ban takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Who is exempted from the travel ban

The following categories of foreign nationals are exempt from the revised travel ban’s restrictions:

Foreign nationals who are in the United States on January 1, 2026
Foreign nationals who have a valid visa in any category as of January 1, 2026
S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
Dual nationals of a country designated in the proclamation when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a non-designated country
Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, those performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State
Any foreign national traveling with a valid nonimmigrant visa in the following classifications for foreign diplomats and certain officials of foreign governments and international organizations: 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;
Those applying for Special Immigrant Visas for certain U.S. government employees
Immigrant visa applicants who are ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
Those whose travel is deemed to advance a critical U.S. national interest involving the Department of Justice and
Those whose travel is deemed to serve the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designee.

National interest exceptions under the proclamation are expected to be granted only in very limited circumstances. As with the June travel ban, the new order does not apply to individuals who have already been granted asylum or to refugees who have been admitted to the United States. It also affirms that the restrictions do not limit an individual’s ability to seek asylum, refugee status, or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).

Overall, the revised proclamation provides fewer exceptions than the June travel ban. Notably, it eliminates exceptions for applicants seeking Immediate Relative immigrant visas, adoption-related immigrant visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4), and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas. As a result, foreign nationals pursuing these immigrant visa categories will no longer qualify for exceptions beginning January 1, 2026.

Additionally, it remains unclear whether any exceptions would be available in practice to Afghan nationals. Although the proclamation does not distinguish Afghan nationals from other affected individuals in terms of eligibility for exceptions, the State Department has recently announced a pause on all visa issuance to holders of Afghan passports.

What’s Next?

The government will conduct periodic reviews of the countries subject to the travel ban to determine whether the restrictions should be continued, modified, suspended, or supplemented. Within 180 days of the proclamation—and every 180 days thereafter—the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of Intelligence, is required to submit a report to President Trump with recommendations regarding the continued application of the restrictions.

Conclusion

Nationals of countries covered by the proclamation should assess whether they will be subject to the new restrictions, seeking legal counsel where appropriate. Individuals who are newly affected and not currently subject to the June travel ban should, where possible, plan to return to the United States before January 1, 2026, when the new proclamation takes effect.

In addition, both nationals of—and individuals born in—countries newly added to the travel ban list should be aware that the processing of immigration benefit applications filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may be paused. Earlier this month, USCIS placed holds on all pending immigration benefit applications filed by individuals from travel ban countries, including those born in a designated country, even though the proclamation itself applies only to nationals of affected countries.

Our law offices will continue to provide updates as additional guidance becomes available.

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