As of January 15, 2026, the United States has introduced major changes to its immigration and travel rules. These changes affect people around the world who hoped to visit, study, work, or live in the U.S. permanently. In this blog post, we explain the two most important developments in plain English so you can understand how they work and how they might affect you.
1. Expanded U.S. Travel Ban (Presidential Proclamation 10998)
At
the start of 2026, the U.S. government updated and expanded its travel ban
under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1, 2026.
This new rule limits or stops entry and visa issuance for people from many
countries. The main goal is to strengthen national security and improve vetting
procedures for visa applicants.
Who Is Fully Banned?
Nationals
of some countries are completely barred from entering the United States unless
they qualify for very specific exceptions, such as diplomatic visas or lawful
permanent residency holders. These countries include:
- 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 with Palestinian Authority travel documents
For
people from these countries, all immigrant visas and most nonimmigrant visas
are suspended, with very few exceptions.
Who Faces Partial Restrictions?
Citizens
of several additional countries now face restrictions on some types of visas.
They may still be eligible for certain work or special visas, but immigrant
visas and common travel visas like tourist or student visas can be limited.
These countries include:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Burundi
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Important Exceptions
Not
everyone from these countries is automatically banned. Some people may still
enter the U.S. if they:
- Already hold a valid visa issued before January 1, 2026
- Are lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders)
- Have special national interest cases or official diplomatic reasons
- Are dual nationals using a passport from a country not on the list
2. Indefinite Pause on Immigrant Visa Processing (Starting Jan. 21, 2026)
In
addition to the travel ban, the U.S. State Department announced a pause on
immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries. This rule begins on
January 21, 2026 and it is expected to continue indefinitely while the
government reviews its procedures.
What This Means
Immigrant
visas are the visas people use to move to the United States permanently (such
as family-based, employment-based, or diversity visas). Under this pause:
- No new immigrant visas will be issued to people from these 75 countries at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
- This does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as tourist visas, student visas, and business visas — those continue to be processed as usual.
The
decision to pause is tied to concerns about applicants likely to become “public
charges,” meaning people who might rely on U.S. government benefits. Officials
say they want to reassess how immigrants are screened for financial stability
and other criteria.
Examples of Affected Countries
The
pause affects countries across different regions of the world. Some of the
nations included are:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Russia
- Somalia
- Thailand
- Yemen
…and
many others. This list spans Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and small
island states.
Who Is Not Affected?
People
seeking tourist, business, or student visas are not affected by the pause.
Dual
nationals with passports from countries not on the list may still proceed with
immigrant visa processing.
Cases
where the U.S. government determines there is a significant national interest
may be considered even during the pause.
Why These Policies Matter
These
two policies — the expanded travel ban and the immigrant visa pause — represent
a major shift in how the U.S. handles legal immigration and entry from foreign
countries. Together, they impact:
- Families hoping to reunite in the U.S.
- Students planning to study abroad
- Workers seeking long-term job opportunities
- People applying for permanent residency (Green Cards)
Because
these policies are recent and may change over time, it is important to always
check official U.S. government sources like the U.S. State Department or U.S.
embassies for the latest updates relevant to your situation. Future revisions
may happen, especially as policies are reviewed or challenged legally.