(UNITED STATES) — President Trump issued a proclamation on December 16, 2025, expanding visa travel restrictions that will take effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026, while explicitly exempting U.S. lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders.
Overview of the proclamation
The White House proclamation, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” broadens a June 2025 travel ban under Proclamation 10949 from 19 to 39 countries and adds individuals holding Palestinian Authority–issued documents.
- The restrictions apply only to people who are outside the United States on January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST and do not have a valid U.S. visa as of that date.
- Existing visas remain usable — the proclamation is not a blanket cancellation of already issued visas.
Key takeaway: If you are outside the U.S. at 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026 and do not hold a valid U.S. visa at that moment, these restrictions could prevent new visa issuance or entry — depending on the country designation.
Who is exempt
The proclamation explicitly exempts several groups. Most notably:
- U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders) — not subject to the full or partial restrictions, regardless of nationality, and can continue to travel and re-enter the U.S. normally.
- Dual nationals who use passports from non-designated countries.
- Certain diplomats traveling on A-1/A-2, G and NATO visas.
- International sports participants — World Cup athletes, coaches, support staff, and immediate relatives.
- Long-term U.S. government employees and persecuted Iranian minorities are also listed among exempt categories.
The proclamation retains a waiver option: waivers may be granted on a case-by-case basis when entry serves U.S. national interest, at the Secretary of State’s discretion.
Full bans vs. Partial bans
The proclamation distinguishes between full bans (no immigrant or nonimmigrant visas issued for affected nationals without a valid visa as of the effective date) and partial bans (limits certain nonimmigrant categories, such as tourist and some student visas).
Countries under full bans
Countries listed as continuing under full bans include:
– Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen.
The proclamation also places the following under full bans:
– Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syria, and individuals holding Palestinian Authority–issued documents.
Countries under partial bans
Partial bans (which limit certain nonimmigrant visas such as B-1/B-2 tourist and F/M/J student categories) cover:
– Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Quick comparison (summary table)
| Type of ban | Effect on visas as of 12:01 a.m. EST Jan 1, 2026 | Example visa categories affected |
|---|---|---|
| Full ban | No issuance/entry for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for nationals outside the U.S. without a valid visa | All immigrant and nonimmigrant visas |
| Partial ban | Limits issuance of certain nonimmigrant categories for nationals outside the U.S. without a valid visa | B-1/B-2 (tourist), F/M/J (students) |
Changes to exemptions and family-based immigration
The proclamation narrows several prior exemptions and alters who can obtain relief:
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents) are no longer exempt when seeking immigrant visas.
- Adoption-related immigrant visas are no longer exempt.
- Exemptions previously referenced for Afghan Special Immigrant Visas, as well as some applications tied to asylum, Convention Against Torture, and refugee protections, are removed in certain contexts.
These removals may reshape expectations for families relying on immigrant visa processing when relatives are abroad.
USCIS adjudication suspensions and processing impacts
Since June 2025, USCIS has suspended adjudication of several types of applications for some nationals. Affected forms include:
– <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-485">Form I-485</a> (Adjustment of Status)
– <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-90">Form I-90</a> (Green Card Replacement)
– <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-751">Form I-751</a> (Removal of Conditions)
– <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-131">Form I-131</a> (Reentry Permits/Travel Documents)
– <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/n-400">Form N-400</a> (Naturalization)
The December 16, 2025 proclamation includes expectations that those USCIS suspensions will expand to newly designated countries. These USCIS pauses are distinct from the entry restrictions effective January 1, 2026, but they nevertheless affect how families and employers plan immigration timelines.
Practical implications and advice
- The effective date (12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026) creates a narrow window for nationals who are outside the United States without a valid visa to return before the cutoff.
- For nationals under full bans, new visas will be broadly unavailable after the restrictions start — making the timing of travel and visa validity critical.
- Lawful permanent residents should note that the exemption preserves travel rights many rely on for family and work — the proclamation does not create a new bar to boarding or admission based on nationality for green card holders.
- The waiver authority remains an option but is limited and focused on U.S. national interest, decided by the Secretary of State.
How the proclamation defines coverage
The proclamation’s application is straightforward at the border and consular stages:
1. Is the person outside the United States at 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026?
2. Do they lack a valid U.S. visa at that time?
- If both answers are yes, the person may be subject to either full or partial restrictions depending on country/designation.
- If the person has a valid visa at that time, the visa remains usable, even for nationals of countries under full or partial bans.
Final notes
The expanded travel ban under Proclamation 10949 (June 2025) and the December 16, 2025 proclamation increase the scope of country coverage and extend restrictions beyond nationality to include Palestinian Authority–issued documents. Lawful permanent residents remain formally exempt from the entry restrictions, but USCIS processing suspensions that began in June 2025 continue to affect some green card–related applications for certain nationalities.
For affected nationals currently outside the United States without a valid visa, the practical guidance in the proclamation urges return before January 1, 2026, 12:01 a.m. EST, because new visas are broadly unavailable for full-ban countries after the restrictions begin.
Starting January 1, 2026, the U.S. will expand travel restrictions to 39 countries. While Green Card holders are exempt, the proclamation imposes full or partial bans on visa issuance for individuals outside the country. Key changes include the removal of exemptions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and continued USCIS processing suspensions. Affected travelers are advised to return to the U.S. before the effective date.
