Key Points
- A new Proclamation signed on June 4, 2025, restricts the issuance of US visas and entry from 19 countries.
- The ban fully suspends immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for 12 nations and partially restricts seven others.
- Certain exceptions apply, including current visa holders and cases of national interest.
Travel Ban: Proclamation to Restrict Specific Visa Issuance
On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed a Proclamation restricting visa issuance and entry into the United States for foreign nationals from certain countries to combat terrorism and national security threats. This action follows his Executive Order 14161, which directed national security agencies to assess risks posed by various nations. In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld the President’s authority to impose such entry restrictions under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
US Travel Ban List
The Proclamation entirely restricts the issuance of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for foreign nationals from 12 countries deemed to have inadequate screening processes and pose a high security risk. These countries include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additionally, visa issuance is partially restricted for nationals from seven other countries (restricting B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visas): Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Exceptions exist for lawful permanent residents, current visa holders, and individuals with national interest considerations, among others.
The Proclamation will take effect at 12:01 am ET on June 9, 2025, and will only apply to individuals who are outside the US and do not have a valid visa as of the effective date.
Exceptions
- If you hold a valid US visa, then you should still be permitted to continue traveling to the US using that visa;
- If you are physically in the US before June 9, you should be permitted to stay;
- US Green Card Holders (permanent residents);
- Any dual national of a country on the travel ban list when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a country not on the travel ban list;
- Any foreign national traveling with a valid nonimmigrant visa in the following classifications: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6;
- Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;
- Immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA);
- Adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4);
- Afghan Special Immigrant Visas;
- Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees;
- Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran;
- Waivers/Exceptions may be made for individuals who would advance a critical United States national interest involving the Department of Justice, including when individuals must be present to participate in criminal proceedings as witnesses; and
- Officials may grant waivers or exceptions on a case-by-case basis to individuals who serve a US national interest.
Why a Travel Ban?
The administration argues that these measures will encourage foreign governments to cooperate, strengthen immigration enforcement, and advance counterterrorism objectives. The restrictions are based on concerns related to inadequate vetting, high visa overstay rates, a lack of information sharing, and terrorism risks.
President Trump has framed this action as a continuation of his first-term travel ban, reinforcing his commitment to national security and border enforcement. The Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration’s previous travel ban, ruling that it fell within presidential authority and was justified by legitimate security concerns.
What This Proclamation Means for Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals from entirely restricted countries who are not eligible for an exception will likely be unable to reenter the US, which may lead to job losses or delays in hiring. Individuals from partially restricted countries may experience longer visa processing times and more extensive in-person interviews. Employees from affected countries should reconsider non-essential international travel, as re-entry into the US could be impossible.
What This Proclamation Means for Employers
The new travel ban, coupled with the administration’s restrictive immigration policies and heightened enforcement measures, is expected to create additional challenges for employers. These challenges include difficulties in hiring workers from restricted countries, leading to talent shortages across various industries. Additionally, stricter or more frequent immigration audits will increase employers’ administrative workload, so they must prepare accordingly.
Content in this publication is for informational purposes only and not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. If you want guidance on how this information may impact your particular situation and are a client of the Corporate Immigration Partners, PC, consult your attorney. If you are not a CIP client, consult another qualified professional. This website does not create an attorney-client relationship with CIP.
