The United States has entered 2026 with a substantially widened travel ban that reshapes who can enter the country and under what conditions. A new presidential proclamation, formally titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” extends sweeping entry suspensions to nationals of 20 countries. This measure suspends visa issuance for many applicants from those states and makes their entry into the U.S. broadly prohibited.
The expanded ban builds on an earlier order from June 2025 but goes further by enlarging both the list of countries subject to comprehensive bans and those facing partial restrictions. Twelve nations already under full entry bars remain on the list, and a broader set of states now fall into a partial ban category. For these partially restricted countries, nationals face suspensions of immigrant visas and key nonimmigrant categories such as business, tourism, student, vocational, and exchange visitor visas.
Under the partial ban, common visa types including B-1 business, B-2 tourism, F student, M vocational, and J exchange visitor visas are affected, with many applications now subject to automatic refusal. Some specialized nonimmigrant categories may technically remain available, but the practical impact is a severe narrowing of pathways for affected nationals to enter the U.S. This recalibration of visa policy effectively creates tiers of access based on nationality and visa type.
Despite its sweeping language, the proclamation includes categorical exemptions and the possibility of case-by-case waivers. U.S. lawful permanent residents are not subject to the ban, nor are individuals who already hold valid U.S. visas as of the date the new rules took effect. These carve-outs mean that certain travelers from banned countries can still enter, but new applicants face a far more restrictive environment.
What this means for you
If you are a national of a country listed under the full or partial travel ban, you should expect greatly reduced chances of securing a new U.S. visa, particularly for standard visitor, study, and immigrant categories. Travelers from affected states should consult official U.S. government resources and qualified immigration counsel before attempting to apply, as many applications will be refused automatically under the proclamation. Individuals who already hold valid visas or permanent resident status should carry proof of that status and understand the limits of their exemptions.
For travelers from countries not directly listed in the ban but with ties to affected states, such as dual nationals or those using travel documents issued by certain authorities, it is important to verify how the rules apply before making plans. Airlines and border officers may scrutinize nationality and documentation more closely, leading to delays or denial of boarding for those who do not clearly meet entry conditions. Planning ahead and allowing extra time for checks is advisable.
Overall, the expanded travel ban makes the U.S. border environment more complex and restrictive for millions of potential visitors. Those in regions covered by the new rules will need to reassess the feasibility of tourism, study, work, or family visits to the United States, while travelers from other countries should be aware of heightened screening and evolving entry conditions.