Can B-1/B-2 Visa Holders from Restricted Countries Enter the U.S.?

(UNITED STATES) The Biden administration’s June 2025 travel ban is blocking many holders of B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas from entering the United States 🇺🇸, even when their visas are still valid and were issued long before the policy. As of November 29, 2025, nationals from 19 countries named in the proclamation face a full or partial suspension on entry. For several of those countries, the ban covers all immigrants and a wide range of nonimmigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, leaving families, students, and business travelers in limbo at airports and consulates around the world.

Which countries are affected and how the ban works

The proclamation, often referred to by lawyers as the June 2025 travel ban, lists countries such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Venezuela among those under a full ban. For these states, the suspension applies both to people seeking to immigrate permanently and to nonimmigrants who only plan short stays.

That means a visitor with a valid B-1/B-2 visa who expected to attend a trade fair, visit a supplier, or see relatives now faces a wall at the border, unless they fit into one of a limited number of exemptions written into the presidential order.

Full vs. partial bans

• Full ban: Entry is suspended for all immigrants and for nonimmigrants using B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
• Partial ban: Restrictions vary by visa type, but officials have targeted visitor categories most aggressively. B-1/B-2 visas are typically among those suspended.

Travelers from banned countries can no longer assume that a machine‑readable visa in their passport guarantees entry. Even long‑planned trips — such as parents visiting children at U.S. universities or small business owners attending conferences — are now blocked by default for many.

Exemptions — the limited lifeline

The list of exemptions is the primary way people determine whether they can still travel. Important exempt groups include:

• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) — not covered by the ban and may continue to enter.
• Certain dual nationals — if they hold citizenship in both a restricted country and a non‑restricted country and travel on the passport of the non‑restricted country, they may be treated as exempt.
• Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens — defined as spouses, minor children, and parents, who may be allowed entry on a visitor visa in some cases.
• Refugees admitted through resettlement and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders — not included in the ban and may continue travel under existing checks.
• Members of athletic teams traveling for major sports events — a clause crafted with international competitions (e.g., the 2026 FIFA World Cup) in mind.

These exemptions are narrow and fact‑specific. Attorneys say dual‑citizenship details and family‑relationship definitions are now key factors in travel planning.

Table: Key exempt categories (summary)

Practical confusion and front‑line interpretation

Although the proclamation lists exemptions, the guidance contains mixed language. On one hand, it explains that B-1/B-2 visa holders from banned countries generally cannot enter, even with valid visas, unless they fall under an exemption. On the other hand, it also notes that people who already hold valid U.S. visas, including B-1/B-2, are listed among exempt groups provided they are not barred for other reasons.

This tension creates broad discretion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at ports of entry. CBP officers can decide case by case whether a traveler is covered by the June 2025 travel ban, which means:

• A visa in a passport no longer guarantees permission to enter.
• Even travelers who believe they meet an exemption can be turned away if an officer decides the ban applies or if other inadmissibility grounds exist (e.g., past overstays, fraud concerns, security flags).
• Attempting travel without checking status risks long flights only to face hours of questioning and being sent home.

Officials’ consistent message: CBP officers at the port of entry make the final call.

Financial and procedural hurdles: visa bonds and social media checks

The proclamation also introduces visa bonds for some of the 19 countries. Consular officers may require visitors to post a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 as a condition of issuing a visa or allowing entry. The bond is intended to encourage compliance with terms of stay and departure, but:

• For many families from lower‑income states, the bond represents an almost impossible sum.
• Business travelers and tour groups are scrambling for sponsors or corporate guarantees.
• Some consulates report a sharp drop in B-1/B-2 applications after the bond policy.

Security screening has tightened for F, M, and J visas (students, vocational trainees, exchange visitors). Applicants are now often told to set their social media accounts to “public” so investigators can view posts during background checks. This raises privacy concerns and has led some students to delay or cancel U.S. study plans.

Country‑by‑country variation and practical impacts

The ban does not operate identically for all 19 countries. Wording on partial bans allows for complex, country‑specific differences. However, lawyers agree on one consistent conclusion:

• Visitor visas are among the hardest hit. Citizens in most listed states can no longer rely on B-1 visas for business meetings or B-2 visas for tourism and family visits.

Travel agents from Havana to Freetown report spending much of their time explaining that the issue is a U.S. government policy blocking boarding for many would‑be visitors, not airline ticketing or scheduling.

Official guidance and recommended traveler actions

For people trying to determine whether they can enter, official advice is to seek clarity before making travel plans. Practical steps and resources:

1. Check notices posted by U.S. embassies and consulates for country‑specific guidance.
2. Consult the U.S. Department of State’s public page on presidential proclamations and visa entry rules: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/presidential-proclamations-visas.html
3. Carry documentation proving eligibility for any claimed exemption.
4. Avoid last‑minute travel if there is any uncertainty; decisions are highly fact‑specific.
5. Speak with qualified immigration counsel before booking flights.

Consular officers emphasize that even those who appear to qualify for an exemption should confirm their status in advance and prepare supporting documents.

Community reaction and ongoing concerns

Inside the United States, community groups report rising anxiety among families from affected countries, including individuals not directly covered by the ban but worried about future policy shifts. Examples of concerns:

• Some green card holders worry about traveling abroad in case rules change while they are away.
• International students on F, M, and J visas from non‑banned countries fear potential future expansions of the policy.
• Advocacy organizations urge people to keep copies of immigration documents, monitor official updates, and consult counsel before international travel.

Bottom line

• Nationals of restricted countries who hold B-1/B-2 visas face steep barriers to entering the United States, regardless of when or where those visas were issued.
• Only those who clearly fit into narrow exemption groups — such as lawful permanent residents, certain dual nationals, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, refugees, Afghan SIV holders, or approved athletic team members — have a realistic path to travel.
• Everyone else must treat the June 2025 travel ban as a hard stop, not a soft warning, and seek confirmation from official channels before packing or purchasing tickets.

Key takeaway: a visa is no longer an automatic guarantee of entry — advance verification, documentation, and legal advice are essential.