Status note: This guide reflects publicly reported rules as of September 2026. Immigration policy is changing quickly and some rules are being challenged in court. Always confirm with official sources or an immigration attorney before acting.
On December 16, 2025, a presidential proclamation expanded US entry restrictions to nationals of 39 countries and people traveling on Palestinian Authority documents. It took effect on January 1, 2026.
Full restrictions:
Visa issuance is suspended for both immigrants and nonimmigrants from 19 countries: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Partial restrictions:
About 20 more countries face partial restrictions, including Nigeria. For these, immigrant visas and B (visitor), F and M (student) and J (exchange) visas are suspended, while other categories such as H-1B are not included. Turkmenistan is an exception for nonimmigrant visas.
Who is generally not affected:
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- People who held a valid US visa issued before January 1, 2026
- People who were inside the US on January 1, 2026 (for entry purposes)
Advice for students:
If you’re from an affected country and already in the US, think carefully before traveling abroad. A visa issued before 2026 may still work, but renewing one could be blocked. Talk to your DSO first.
