What the New U.S. Travel Ban Is and Means for Immigrants Attempting to Come to The U.S.
- mburchettlaw
- Dec 29, 2025
- 5 min read
The U.S. published the travel ban policy with an updated proclamation on December 16, 2025. The U.S. government significantly expanded travel restrictions on citizens of multiple countries, citing “national security and public safety” concerns. The policy builds on an earlier travel ban instituted in June 2025 and adds new nations subject to entry restrictions starting January 1, 2026.[1]
There are two key categories of restrictions:
Full Travel Ban
Travel and visa issuance are completely suspended for nationals of certain countries. This includes immigrant visas and all nonimmigrant visas for these citizens who are outside the U.S. on the effective date without a valid visa.
Partial Travel Ban
For another set of countries, entry into the U.S. is suspended for:
immigrant visas, and
certain nonimmigrant categories such as B‑1/B‑2 (tourist/business), F (student), M (vocational training), and J (exchange visitor) visas.
Consular officers are also directed to reduce the validity of other nonimmigrant visas for these nationalities.
This ban applies to people who are outside the United States at that time and do not already have a valid U.S. visa.
Importantly:
Existing valid visas typically remain valid (they are not retroactively canceled).
People already in the U.S. at the effective time are not automatically barred from remaining or adjusting status — though travel outside the U.S. could trigger the ban.
Countries Under Full Ban (20 total)
These citizens (if outside the U.S. on Jan. 1, 2026 without a valid visa) will be prohibited from entering the United States in any visa category:
Afghanistan
Burkina Faso
Burma (Myanmar)
Chad
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Laos
Libya
Mali
Niger
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Yemen
Individuals traveling with Palestinian Authority‑issued or endorsed travel documents
Countries Under Partial Ban (20 total)
These countries are partially restricted — meaning immigrant visa issuance is suspended and nonimmigrant visas in categories like B, F, M, and J are also restricted or may be limited in validity:
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Benin
Burundi
Côte d’Ivoire
Cuba
Dominica
Gabon
The Gambia
Malawi
Mauritania
Nigeria
Senegal
Tanzania
Togo
Tonga
Turkmenistan (partial exception applies)
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Note: Turkmenistan is unique — its immigrant visas are suspended, but nonimmigrant categories (B, F, M, J) are not suspended.
Who is exempt or not affected
The ban does not automatically apply to everyone from these countries. There are important exclusions:
Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders)
Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non‑banned country
Certain diplomats and international officials
Travelers whose entry is in the U.S. national interest
Some athletic delegations (e.g., for major global sporting events)
People with valid visas already in hand prior to the effective date
What This Means Practically
Beginning January 1, 2026, if a traveler from one of the listed countries is outside the U.S. and does not have a valid entry visa, they may be denied the ability to obtain one and thus be barred from entering the U.S.
That affects:
tourism
study abroad
business travel
immigration processing abroad
and potentially family reunification travel
What Happens Next for Pending Immigration Cases
USCIS Processing May Be Placed on Hold
For nationals of the affected “high‑risk” countries (e.g., the 19 countries associated with the earlier travel ban lists), USCIS has issued a policy memorandum PM-602-0192. In that directive it states that USCIS:
Places an adjudicative hold on many pending benefit applications (such as adjustment of status, work authorizations, travel documents, and other benefits)
Includes pending asylum applications requiring additional review
Can involve a comprehensive re‑review of previously approved benefits for certain individuals born in or citizens of the listed countries who entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021
Applies regardless of where the applicant is located if they are nationals of those designated high‑risk countries.
This means that even cases already pending with USCIS — including I‑130s, I‑485s, I‑765s, I‑131s, and asylum applications — can be paused or re‑evaluated before a final decision is issued.[2]
Consular Processing and Scheduled Visa Interviews
For applicants who are moving forward through consular processing abroad (for example, immigrant visa interviews at U.S. embassies or consulates):
The expanded travel ban’s entry restrictions come into play if they are outside the U.S. on or after January 1, 2026, without a valid visa — in that situation they will not be allowed to obtain a new visa or enter the United States.
Pending interviews could be canceled or postponed, though specific policy guidance and cancellations vary by post and are happening in real time. There have already been reports of interview scheduling disruptions for cases where the travel ban affects visa issuance.
So, if someone has an upcoming consular interview and is a national of a restricted country, there is a real risk that the interview could be:
Suspended
Delayed
Moved to “administrative processing”
Canceled with rescheduling at a later date
This is especially true for those whose interviews are scheduled after the ban’s effective date.
Inside the United States vs. Outside
A key distinction is:
Inside the United States
Individuals lawfully present or with pending applications may continue to pursue those adjudications — though processing may be paused or slowed for certain nationalities.
Adjustment of status applications may still proceed in some cases, but expect additional screening, holds, or requests for evidence.
Outside the United States
Anyone outside the U.S. on January 1, 2026 who does not hold a valid visa will generally be covered by the new restrictions and will be unable to enter the U.S. until or unless a waiver or exception is successfully obtained.
This is especially significant for consular processing cases — even if the immigrant petition (e.g., I‑130) was approved and the National Visa Center (NVC) completed processing.
Exceptions & Important Notes
Here’s what’s not automatically stopped or invalidated:
Existing valid visas that are valid on January 1, 2026 remain valid (the ban does not automatically revoke them).
Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are not subject to these entry restrictions.
Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non‑banned country may be allowed entry.
Cases for nationals not on the restricted lists are generally not affected by the pause.
The chart below summarizes particular petitions or cases and the impact of the ban.
Case Type / Benefit | Applicant Location | Likely Impact if Pending | Notes / Exceptions |
I-130 (Family-Based Petition) | Inside U.S. | Generally proceeds, may face additional review | Extra vetting possible; USC children may not exempt applicant |
I-130 | Outside U.S. | Interviews may be delayed/canceled | Banned country nationals may be unable to obtain a visa |
I-485 (Adjustment of Status) | Inside U.S. | May proceed; processing slower | RFEs possible for high-risk country nationals |
I-765 (Work Authorization) | Inside U.S. | May be delayed | Can work if already approved |
I-131 (Advance Parole) | Inside U.S. | Requests may be paused | Travel abroad could be restricted |
Asylum Applications | Inside U.S. | Processing may be placed on hold; interviews delayed | Applicants in removal proceedings may face extra scrutiny |
Nonimmigrant Visa Applications (B, F, M, J) | Outside U.S. | Issuance may be suspended | Interviews postponed; only certain exceptions apply |
Existing Valid Visas / Green Card Holders | Anywhere | Not affected | Lawful permanent residents and valid visa holders exempt |
If you have questions about how the expanded travel ban may affect your pending immigration case, or if you need guidance on your options, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Our experienced immigration attorneys are available to provide consultations, review your case, and help you understand the best next steps to protect your status and travel plans. We are here to assist you every step of the way.
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