Possible Expansion of the Travel (US Entry) Ban
Several news outlets are reporting that an internal Department of State (DOS) memo issued to consular posts indicated that 36 more countries will be given 60 days to meet the administration’s benchmarks and requirements or face either a partial or full entry ban similar to the ban on 19 countries that went into place on June 9, 2025. Media reports lists the following 36 countries facing scrutiny in the memo:
Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Ethiopia; Egypt; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Ivory Coast; Kyrgyzstan; Liberia; Malawi; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; South Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vanuatu; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.
See more details about the current entry ban prohibiting nationals from the 19 countries from obtaining new US entry visas. The 12 “full ban” countries are: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The 7 “partial ban” countries restricting B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas are: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
It is unclear if, when or how an expansion to the travel ban might be announced but nationals from these countries should be especially prudent about making any international travel plans and should consult with their ISSO Advisor with any questions.