News & Announcements

U.S. Expands Travel Ban With New Restrictions, Effective January 2026

4 min read
Written by Aarushi Ahuja

Key Takeaways

  • A new presidential order expands U.S. travel and visa restrictions beginning January 1, 2026.
  • Who is affected: Nationals of 39 countries and individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents may face new visa restrictions.
  • Who is not affected: Individuals already in the United States or holding a valid U.S. visa on January 1, 2026 are generally exempt, and existing visas will not be revoked.
  • What to do now: Newly impacted individuals should review upcoming travel carefully and consider returning to the U.S. before January 1, if eligible.

Overview

On December 16, 2025, President Trump signed a presidential proclamation expanding and updating the June 2025 travel ban. The new order broadens the number of countries covered and the scope of visa restrictions, while also removing several prior exceptions.

The expanded travel ban takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on January 1, 2026 and applies to foreign nationals who are outside the United States and do not hold a valid U.S. visa on that date.

Countries Subject to Full Restrictions

Nationals of 19 countries are barred from receiving both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas under the new proclamation.

Continued full restrictions:

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

Newly added:

  • Burkina Faso
  • Laos (previously “partially restricted”)
  • Mali
  • Niger
  • Sierra Leone (previously “partially restricted”)
  • South Sudan
  • Syria

Individuals using Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed travel documents will generally be unable to obtain U.S. visas, unless an exception applies.

Countries Subject to Partial Restrictions

For nationals of the following 19 countries, the proclamation suspends all immigrant visas, and B, F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas (visitor, student, and exchange visitor categories):

Continued partial restrictions:

  • Burundi
  • Cuba
  • Togo
  • Venezuela

Newly added:

  • Angola
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Benin
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Dominica
  • Gabon
  • The Gambia
  • Malawi
  • Mauritania
  • Nigeria
  • Senegal
  • Tanzania
  • Tonga
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Some work visa categories (such as H-1B and L-1) may still be issued, but consular officers are directed to limit how long those visas are valid, and shortened validity periods are already being applied.

Country With Limited Restrictions

  • Turkmenistan
    • Immigrant visas remain suspended
    • All nonimmigrant visa categories, including B, F, M, and J, may be issued

Who Is Covered by the Travel Ban

The revised travel ban applies only to nationals of the above countries who:

  • Are outside the United States on January 1, 2026, and
  • Do not hold a valid U.S. visa on that date

Visas issued before the effective date will remain valid and will not be revoked as a result of the new order. However, affected travelers may face additional screening at U.S. ports of entry, and uncertainty remains around visa renewals after January 1.

Exemptions

The travel ban does not apply to:

  • Individuals physically present in the U.S. on January 1, 2026
  • Individuals holding a valid U.S. visa on that date
  • U.S. lawful permanent residents
  • Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-designated country
  • Certain diplomats and government officials
  • Athletes and related personnel traveling for major international sporting events

National interest exceptions remain available but are expected to be very limited.

What’s Changed from the June 2025 Travel Ban

Compared to the June proclamation:

  • 7 countries added to the full visa suspension list
  • 15 countries added to the partial restriction list
  • 3 major visa exceptions removed (immediate relative, adoption-related, and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas).
  • Shorter visa validity now directed for many nonimmigrant visas issued to nationals of partially restricted countries.

Practical Considerations

Nationals of newly affected countries (and employers or families supporting them) should:

  • Confirm whether the new restrictions apply to their situation
  • Carefully evaluate international travel plans before January 1, 2026
  • Anticipate potential visa issuance delays and USCIS processing holds

Earlier this month, USCIS paused processing of certain immigration benefit applications associated with travel ban countries. This includes certain cases where the applicant was born in a listed country, even if they are not a citizen of that country.

Looking Ahead

The proclamation requires the administration to review the list of travel ban countries every 180 days, with the possibility of future changes. 

Clients with impacted employees or family members are encouraged to consult immigration counsel to assess risk and plan next steps.

Ellis will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as additional guidance becomes available.

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