US Entry Ban Expanded to Additional Countries

in Immigration Actions Trump 2.0
December 17th, 2025

President Trump signed a new proclamation that updates and expands the current entry/travel ban effective from 12:01am on January 1, 2026 through December 16, 2026. This expanded ban will continue to suspend visa processing and entry to the US for international students and scholars/employees from the countries referenced below if they do not already have a valid visa to enter the US.

See full list of all countries subject to the ban for specifics below and refer to the White House Fact Sheet for more details. In addition, USCIS has announced expanded vetting for USCIS application for nationals of travel ban countries as well. Please contact your ISSO advisor if you have any questions.

Full ban suspends US entry for immigrants and all nonimmigrants in all visa categories:

• Nationals from original 12 countries will continue to be subject to full ban: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
• Nationals from 8 more countries to be added: Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria added, plus any individuals who seek to travel on any travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.

Partial ban suspends entry for immigrants, and nonimmigrants in all B, F, M or J visas:

• Nationals from 4 of original 7 will continue to be subject to partial ban: Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela
• Nationals from 15 more countries to be added: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d ‘Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
• Nationals from 2 countries moved from partial ban to full ban list: Laos and Sierra Leone
• 1 country on partial ban amended: Turkmenistan* will change to immigrant visas ban only as entry prohibitions on B, F, M, and J visas will be lifted.

Exceptions. The Proclamation includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories like athletes to participate in 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics and diplomats, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests in case-by-case waivers.