(TANZANIA) — The U.S. Department of state partially suspended visa issuance on January 1, 2026, for tanzanian nationals and citizens of 18 other countries under presidential proclamation 10998, “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
Key guidance and effective date
The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam issued guidance dated January 6, 2026, stating:
“Effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, the Department of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries—including Tanzania—for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas.”
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The guidance emphasized a narrow effective-date rule:
Presidential Proclamation 10998 “only applies to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date AND do not hold a valid visa on the effective date (January 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST).”
Foreign nationals who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to the proclamation.
No visas issued before January 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST “have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” the guidance added.
Scope of the suspension
The partial suspension covers:
- Nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas
- Nonimmigrant F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas
- All immigrant visas, with limited exceptions
Applicants subject to Proclamation 10998 may still submit visa applications and schedule interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.
Countries subject to the partial suspension
The partial suspension list includes the following 19 countries (Tanzania is among them):
| Country |
|---|
| Angola |
| Antigua and Barbuda |
| Benin |
| Burundi |
| Cote D’Ivoire |
| Cuba |
| Dominica |
| Gabon |
| The Gambia |
| Malawi |
| Mauritania |
| Nigeria |
| Senegal |
| Tanzania |
| Togo |
| Tonga |
| Venezuela |
| Zambia |
| Zimbabwe |
Limited exceptions
The guidance lists specific exceptions to the suspension. Notable exceptions include:
- Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
- Dual nationals applying with a passport of a nationality not subject to a suspension
- Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)
- Participants in certain major sporting events (examples given: 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics) and their support staff
- Lawful permanent residents
Visa validity reductions for other categories
For visa categories not explicitly suspended (for example, H-1B or L-1), consular officers have been directed to reduce the validity period to the maximum extent permitted by law. This may affect Tanzanians seeking work-authorized nonimmigrant visas by shortening how long those visas are issued for under the proclamation framework.
Visa Bond Pilot Program (Tanzania)
A separate measure interacting with these restrictions is the Visa Bond Pilot Program. Key points:
- Tanzania has been part of the Visa Bond Pilot Program since October 23, 2025.
- Under the program, Tanzanians found otherwise eligible for a B-1/B-2 visa may be required to post a bond of $5,000 or $10,000 as a condition of issuance.
Broader policy context
- The proclamation is titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States” and took effect on January 1, 2026.
- Early January 2026 summaries indicate Proclamation 10998 expands upon Proclamation 10949 (issued in June 2025).
- The restrictions remain in effect until the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State, determines that the country has met required security and vetting standards.
- More broadly, Proclamation 10998 imposes either full or partial suspensions on nationals from 39 countries and on individuals using Palestinian Authority travel documents, placing Tanzania within a larger set of restrictions tied to U.S. security and vetting standards.
Waiver mechanism and stated rationale
- A waiver mechanism exists: on a case-by-case basis, the Secretary of State or Secretary of Homeland Security may grant waivers if an individual’s entry is deemed to serve the U.S. national interest.
- The proclamation’s summary framed these actions as the most expansive use of Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act since 2017.
- The Trump administration cited “national security concerns,” “deficient vetting procedures,” and “high overstay rates” as the primary justifications.
Practical effects for Tanzanian nationals
- If a Tanzanian national was outside the United States on January 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST and did not hold a valid visa at that time, they may be blocked from visa issuance for:
– B-1/B-2
– F and M
– J
– Nearly all immigrant visa categories
- Tanzanians who held valid visas as of January 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST are not subject to the proclamation; visas issued before that time have not been revoked under the proclamation.
-
Applicants subject to the proclamation may still:
– Submit visa applications
– Schedule interviews
— though they may ultimately be ineligible for visa issuance or admission.
DHS findings cited and rationale for focus on Tanzania
- The early January 2026 summary notes Department of Homeland Security reports cited in the proclamation identified several affected countries, including Tanzania, as having high B-1/B-2 and student visa overstay rates.
- Tanzania’s inclusion in both the partial suspension list and the Visa Bond Pilot Program was described as part of an effort to reduce perceived immigration integrity risks.
Where to find official updates
The embassy guidance directed applicants and the public to official channels for updates:
- U.S. Embassy in Tanzania: U.S. Embassy in Tanzania
- U.S. Department of State visa information: U.S. Department of State visa information
- U.S. Department of State visa news: U.S. Department of State visa news
- Department of Homeland Security: DHS official site
The U.S. government has implemented a partial visa suspension for Tanzanian citizens and 18 other countries, effective January 1, 2026. The measure restricts B-1/B-2, F, M, J, and most immigrant visas for those currently outside the U.S. without valid documentation. Justified by national security and high overstay rates, the policy includes specific exceptions for athletes, dual nationals, and legal permanent residents while introducing stricter vetting procedures.
