On June 4th, 2025, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation imposing visa and entry restrictions on nationals of certain countries. The restrictions are imposed due to deficiencies detected by the Administration in identity-management, screening, and cooperation with the US authorities.
Suspension of entry
Effective from June 9th, the Presidential Proclamation suspended the entry of nationals of the following 19 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of The Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The suspensions are applied to travelers without a valid visa issued on or prior to June 8th. Travelers with a visa issued before that date, regardless of their nationality or visa class, are permitted to travel and they will be inspected by the U.S. Custom and Border Protection as per current regulations.
Furthermore, the restrictions are categorized as full suspensions of entry or partial suspension of entry, depending on the country.
The full restriction applies to nationals of 12 countries and to both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. Therefore, nationals of the following countries are broadly barred from securing immigrant and nonimmigrant visas to enter the US, unless they qualify for an exception: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The partial restriction applies to nationals of 7 countries and only to specific visas, including all immigrant visas, and nonimmigrant B-1/B2 (tourist/business), F (student), M (vocational) and J (exchange visitor) visa. The countries addressed by this measure are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Exemptions
As mentioned, the entry restrictions are applicable only to foreign nationals of the designated countries who were outside the US as of June 9th and did not have a valid visa on their passport.
Furthermore, the suspension of and limitation on entry shall not apply to:
- Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. (holders of a green card)
- Dual nationals travelling on a passport from a non-designated country
- Foreign nationals with valid diplomatic or official visas (A, G, NATO, C-2/C-3)
- Athletes or members of an athletic team, including coaches, staff members and immediate relatives, traveling for major sporting events
- Immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1, IR-2, IR-5, CR-1/CR-2) with clear evidence of identity and family relationship
- Adoption-based immigrant visa holders (IR-3/4, IH-3/4)
- Afghan Special Immigrant Visas;
- Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees; and
- Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
Moreover, the Attorney General or the Secretary of State can grant case-by-case waivers. These are intended for individuals of national interests, such as criminal trial witnesses.
Finally, it is worth to mention that the proclamation does not revoke existing visas and it does not apply to individuals who has been granted asylum or refugees already admitted to the U.S. Also, it does not apply to those granted withholding of removal or protection.
