President Trump’s administration is weighing whether to extend its latest travel ban far beyond the current 19 countries, after officials quietly flagged 36 additional nations that could face new entry limits if they don’t tighten security checks within weeks.
According to administration documents described in policy briefings, most of the 36 at‑risk states are in Africa and are viewed by U.S. officials as failing to meet Washington’s standards for vetting travelers, sharing security information, or accepting deported nationals back from the United States 🇺🇸.
The list, which includes countries such as Bhutan, Cameroon, Egypt, and Nigeria, was drawn up around the time of a June 4, 2025 White House proclamation that laid out tougher global screening demands and warned that governments described historically in Washington as Third World Countries could face sweeping restrictions if they did not act quickly.
Timelines and deadlines
Officials gave those 36 governments a 60‑day window from June 4, 2025 to improve what the proclamation calls their screening and vetting procedures, as well as their cooperation with U.S. authorities on information‑sharing and deportations, or risk being recommended for inclusion in the expanded travel ban.
The current order, which targets 19 nations, took effect on June 9, 2025, only five days after the proclamation was issued, setting in motion a strict timeline for follow‑up assessments and possible expansion to dozens of other states.
Under the policy, September 2, 2025 becomes a key date: ninety days after June 4, 2025, the Secretary of State can start sending formal recommendations to President Trump every 180 days, suggesting which governments should be added to or removed from the travel ban based on their cooperation with U.S. security demands.
Remember the 60-day window for the 36 at‑risk countries ends around Aug 3, 2025. Use this period to gather documents and confirm with embassies before any announcements or policy changes occur.
The rolling review system means countries can be added or removed repeatedly every 180 days based on documented cooperation — allowing for both relief if improvements are made and further restrictions if benchmarks are not met.
How the review process will work
- The proclamation establishes a six‑month (180‑day) review cycle.
- Every 180 days the Secretary of State can send recommendations to the President to:
- Add governments to the travel ban, or
- Remove governments from the travel ban,
based on measured progress on vetting, information‑sharing, and deportation cooperation.
This approach means:
– Countries already facing restrictions could be removed if they show material improvements in identifying high‑risk travelers and sharing data.
– Conversely, more states could be reclassified as security risks if they fail to meet U.S. benchmarks, potentially expanding the ban well beyond the current list.
Countries highlighted and special cases
Among the 36 countries now under particular scrutiny, Egypt has drawn special attention inside the administration. The proclamation specifically directs agencies to re‑examine Cairo’s screening and vetting practices, signaling that Egyptian nationals could face new entry limits if officials judge the government has not moved fast enough.
Other named countries on the watch list include:
– Nigeria
– Cameroon
– Bhutan
U.S. officials also cited a long roster of other countries in sub‑Saharan Africa that either lack modern identity systems or have not been willing to share sufficient information about their citizens with American counterparts.
Potential consequences for nationals of affected countries
Countries that fail to meet the benchmarks risk seeing their nationals barred from:
– Receiving immigrant visas
– Receiving certain categories of non‑immigrant visas
– In some cases, being barred from all travel to the United States
The exact scope of penalties would be decided case by case in recommendations sent to the White House.
Supporters’ and critics’ perspectives
Supporters inside the administration argue the tougher stance is needed to:
– Pressure foreign governments to raise their security standards
– Ensure people who are ordered removed from the United States can actually be flown home
Critics — including many immigration lawyers and community advocates — warn that broadening the travel ban to a total that could approach 55 countries would:
– Separate families
– Disrupt long‑planned study and work trips
– Deepen a sense of isolation in communities already affected by earlier restrictions from President Trump’s first term
Uncertainty and practical impacts
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the six‑month review cycle introduces long‑term uncertainty for citizens and residents of the affected states. They may find it difficult to plan travel, education, or business moves when rules can shift every 180 days based on security assessments that are not easily visible or challengeable.
Expect changes on a rolling 180-day cycle. Travel plans can shift quickly—double‑check the latest status with official State Department guidance before booking flights or making commitments.
Travel agents, universities, and employers that work with applicants from the affected regions are watching closely. Visa interviews scheduled after the 60‑day review period may be subject to sudden cancellation if President Trump approves recommendations to widen the travel ban beyond the original 19 nations named in the early June proclamation.
Official guidance and public updates
The U.S. Department of State has posted general information about presidential proclamations and country‑specific entry rules on its official travel pages at https://travel.state.gov, and officials say they will continue to update public guidance as the list of restricted countries changes in the months after September 2, 2025.
Key dates at a glance
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| White House proclamation issued | June 4, 2025 |
| Current order targeting 19 countries took effect | June 9, 2025 |
| 60‑day window for 36 at‑risk countries to improve | From June 4, 2025 (expires ~Aug 3, 2025) |
| Secretary of State can begin formal 180‑day recommendations | September 2, 2025 |
| Rolling recommendation cycle | Every 180 days after September 2, 2025 |
What comes next
Whether the administration ultimately triggers new restrictions will depend on evaluations of each country’s progress on the stated benchmarks: vetting systems, information‑sharing practices, and willingness to accept deportees. Those evaluations will feed into the 180‑day recommendation cycles that can add governments to or remove them from the travel ban.
For citizens of the 36 countries on the warning list — many with family ties, study plans, or business links in the United States — the coming months could bring either relief if their governments pass the U.S. tests or sudden disappointment if new presidential orders close doors with little warning.
For many would‑be travelers, the dates June 4, 2025, June 9, 2025, and September 2, 2025 mark a calendar that will shape hopes and plans in the months ahead.
The administration signaled that 36 mostly African countries could be added to an expanded travel ban unless they improve vetting, information‑sharing and willingness to accept deportees within a 60‑day window from June 4, 2025. A June proclamation created a rolling 180‑day review cycle beginning Sept. 2, 2025, enabling the Secretary of State to recommend additions or removals. If added, nationals could face restrictions on immigrant and non‑immigrant visas, creating planning uncertainty for travelers, students, employers and communities.
