On December 16, 2025, amendments to the Presidential Proclamation Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals were announced. The original proclamation remains in effect until January 1, 2026, at 12:01 am, when the new restrictions will take effect.
The countries initially subject to a "full ban" (Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen) have been expanded to include Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as individuals using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority (PA). The countries initially under a "partial ban" (Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela) have been expanded to include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These restrictions distinguish between, but apply to both, the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants. The restrictions have been modified for Turkmenistan.
We are still working to understand the full scope of this proclamation. Our initial analysis and guidance might evolve as we understand how it will be implemented. Please be alert to updates from ISS, which will be posted here.
A USCIS Policy Memorandum issued January 1, 2026 (Hold and Review of USCIS Benefit Applications Filed by Aliens from Additional High-Risk Countries) directs staff to pause adjudication of benefit applications from citizens of the nations included in this travel ban.
While those affected may file requests with USCIS for benefits such as OPT or Change of Status, applications will not be processed until the pause is lifted. Additionally, applications approved on or after January 20, 2021, may be reopened for additional scrutiny.
Contact ISS if you have concerns about how this may affect your current or future USCIS applications.
This Executive Order does not affect individuals from all countries. Suspension of entry to the U.S. applies only to foreign nationals of the designated countries who:
Full Entry Bans: Nationals from the following countries are subject to full entry restrictions: 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, and Yemen, as well as individuals using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Partial Restrictions: Nationals from additional countries—Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—face partial entry limitations (applies to immigrants and nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J Visas).
The country of citizenship is the basis of the travel ban. The country of birth, country of permanent residence, or country of departure for the trip to the U.S. is not the basis for the travel ban. In addition, as explained below, individuals who are nationals of one of these countries, but who have dual citizenship with another country that is not subject to the ban, are exempt.
Proclamation 8(c) states, “No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the applicable effective date of this proclamation shall be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.” Based on this statement, students who are nationals of these countries should not have their visas revoked if their visas were issued before December 16, 2025. (Nationals subject to the June 4, 2025 proclamation remain subject to the applicable effective date of the that proclamation unless otherwise stated.) If you are a national of one of these countries and receive any notification from the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy of a visa revocation, please contact International Student Services.
International students from the affected countries, particularly those seeking F-1 or J-1 visas, will be unable to apply for a new visa, and may face challenges in entering the U.S.
ISS recommends against travel outside the U.S. for individuals from these countries.