Travel ban and new rules: what you need to know

Updated July 16, 2026
Learn about the new travel ban, who is affected, and what these changes mean for travel and immigration. The rules differ by country and may affect your ability to enter or return to the United States. There are also additional rules that affect people in the U.S. from travel ban countries.
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What is the travel ban?

On June 4, 2025, the Trump administration announced a new travel ban that blocks or limits entry to the U.S. for people from certain countries.

On December 16, 2025, more countries were added to this list or will now be subject to harsher restrictions. These are marked with an asterisk (*). These restrictions started on January 1, 2026.

There are two types of restrictions: full travel ban and partial travel ban.

In addition to the travel ban, the U.S. has temporarily suspended entry for foreign nationals who were in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or Uganda within the last 21 days due to active Ebola outbreaks. This includes temporary visa holders, students, and Green Card holders. It does not apply to U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals.

Important

1. Full travel bans for 20 countries

People from these countries and regions are not allowed to enter the U.S. unless they qualify for a specific exception:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Burkina Faso*
  3. Burma
  4. Chad
  5. Republic of the Congo
  6. Equatorial Guinea
  7. Eritrea
  8. Haiti
  9. Iran
  10. Laos*
  11. Libya
  12. Mali*
  13. Niger*
  14. Palestinian Authority issued travel document holders*
  15. Sierra Leone*
  16. Somalia
  17. South Sudan*
  18. Sudan
  19. Syria*
  20. Yemen

Exceptions (meaning you can still enter) include:

  • If you are from a June 2025 travel ban (no asterisk *) and have valid visas or were inside the U.S. as of June 9, 2025
  • If you are from a January 2026 travel ban (with asterisk *) and have valid visas or were inside the U.S. as of January 1, 2025
  • Green Card holders (lawful permanent residents)
  • Dual nationals traveling on a passport of a country not on the list
  • Certain diplomatic and official visa holders (A, G, NATO)
  • Some religious or ethnic minorities from Iran
  • Athletes and their staff attending major international events

Some things to know:

  •  If you are from one of the full travel ban countries and you leave the U.S., you may not be allowed to return. Even if you are exempt from the ban (for example, you have a Green Card), you could face problems when trying to re-enter the U.S.
  •  If you travel to one of these countries (even if you are not from there), you could face extra screening or reentry issues, especially if you are not a U.S. citizen.
  • Visa types included in the ban (meaning they cannot be used to enter) include: 
    • F2A and F2B visas (spouses and children of Green Card holders)
    • Diversity Visa (DV) winners
    • Employment-based visas (H, L, O, etc.)
    • Student and visitor visas (F, M, J, B)
    • K-1 fiancé(e) visas
  • Follow-to-join (I-730) cases for both asylees and refugees may proceed. Most follow-to-join asylee cases are being processed overseas and will be allowed to travel, but beneficiaries must now pay for their own medical exams and travel expenses. However, follow-to-join asylee cases for individuals from countries named in the travel ban are being denied after consular interviews. Most follow-to-join refugee cases are still on hold overseas. Travel to the U.S. is also on hold. 
  • Afghan SIV applicants, some U.S. government-affiliated SIV cases, and immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are now included in the expanded travel ban. These groups no longer have special exceptions. The U.S. government will only allow exceptions in very rare cases.
  • Afghans who already have an approved SIV or another valid visa can still travel to the U.S. at this time.

Even if the travel ban does not apply to you, international travel may still be risky if you are not a U.S. citizen. Flying within the U.S. can also carry risks of immigration enforcement. You may need a travel document. Learn more.

Important

2. Partial restrictions for 20 countries

Some travelers from these countries can still enter the U.S., but certain visa types are restricted:

  1. Angola*
  2. Antigua and Barbuda*
  3. Benin*
  4. Burundi
  5. Cote d’Ivoire*
  6. Cuba
  7. Dominica*
  8. Gabon*
  9. The Gambia*
  10. Malawi*
  11. Mauritania*
  12. Nigeria*
  13. Senegal*
  14. Tanzania*
  15. Togo
  16. Tonga*
  17. Turkmenistan
  18. Venezuela
  19. Zambia*
  20. Zimbabwe*

The ban for Turkmenistan now only blocks Turkmen nationals from entering on immigrant visas. The ban on Turkmen visitor visas will be lifted.  Laos and Sierra Leone had partial restrictions, but as of January 1, 2026, will have full restrictions.

Partial restrictions mean:

  • No new immigrant visas (to enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident)
  • No non-immigrant visas in the B, J, F, or M categories
  • Shorter visa eligibility times for other non-immigrant categories
  • Longer screening and processing times
  • Extra paperwork or interviews
  • More questions at the airport or border
  • Green Card holders from these countries should not be affected

Are USCIS applications paused for people from travel ban countries?

No. USCIS created additional policies that paused or added extra review to certain immigration cases. A federal court ruled that these policies were unlawful. On July 15, 2026, the court refused to restore the policies while the government appeals.

  • The court ruled that USCIS must continue processing and deciding affected cases, including many asylum, work permit, Green Card, and citizenship applications. The ruling also blocks policies that required USCIS to re-check certain past approvals or treat a person’s country of origin as a negative factor.
  • If your case was delayed or reviewed under these policies:
  • Check your USCIS account and mail for updates.
  • Keep your address current with USCIS.
  • Respond to notices and attend scheduled appointments.
  • Talk to an immigration lawyer or accredited representative about your case.

You should still expect delays due to the USCIS backlog of cases. The government has appealed the ruling, and this information could change.

This ruling does not end the travel ban. It does not change overseas visa processing, refugee admissions, or the restrictions on who may enter the United States.

Important

What are refugee reviews?

USCIS is also re-checking refugee cases from January 20, 2021, to February 20, 2025. If you entered through the refugee program during this time, there is no immediate change to your current status, but your case may be reviewed again. Pending Green Card applications for this group are also paused. See IRAP for more information.

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The information on this page comes from USCIS and other trusted sources. We aim to offer easy to understand information that is updated regularly. This information is not legal advice.