Travel Bans Placed on Certain Foreign Nationals Under Presidential Proclamation 10998

What Was Announced?

Effective January 1, 2026, the United States implemented full and partial visa issuance and entry suspensions for nationals of 39 countries pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10998, issued on December 16, 2025. This action is grounded in national security and vetting concerns and is legally distinct from recent visa processing pauses announced by the Department of State. This update affects visa issuance and entry eligibility, not merely processing timelines.

What the Proclamation Does

Presidential Proclamation 10998 imposes travel and visa issuance restrictions on certain foreign nationals who:

• Are outside the United States as of January 1, 2026, and

• Do not hold a valid U.S. visa as of the effective date

No visas issued before January 1, 2026, have been revoked under this Proclamation.

Countries Subject to Full Suspension

Nationals of 19 countries are subject to a full suspension of visa issuance for most immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories, with limited exceptions:

Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, as well as individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority issued or endorsed travel documents.

Countries Subject to Partial Suspension

Nationals of 19 additional countries are subject to partial suspensions, primarily affecting:

• B-1/B-2 visitor visas

• F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas

• All immigrant visas

Countries include, among others: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Turkmenistan is subject to a partial suspension limited to immigrant visas only.

Who Is Not Affected?

The Proclamation does not apply to:

• Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders)

• Individuals inside the United States

• Foreign nationals holding a valid U.S. visa issued before January 1, 2026

• Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-designated country

• Certain diplomatic and official visa holders

No visas have been cancelled or revoked as a result of this Proclamation.

Important Change to Prior Exceptions

Presidential Proclamation 10998 removes certain exceptions that existed under earlier travel restrictions, including:

• Immediate family immigrant visas

• Adoption-based immigrant visas

• Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)

National Interest Exceptions may still be granted on a case-by-case basis, though detailed implementation guidance has not yet been issued.

Key Distinction for Clients and Employers

This Proclamation is a travel and entry restriction, not a visa processing delay. It operates separately from the Department of State’s temporary immigrant visa processing pauses and should be evaluated independently when assessing immigration strategy.

Key Takeaway

While travel restrictions are serious, they are highly specific in scope and apply only to individuals who meet precise criteria. Immigration outcomes remain case-specific, and many pathways continue to operate normally for individuals both inside and outside the United States.

Williams Global Law continues to monitor agency guidance and implementation closely. Clients who may be affected should seek individualized legal advice before making travel or filing decisions.

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