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U.S. Suspends and Partially Suspends Visa Issuance to Nationals of 39 Countries and Palestinian Authority Document Holde

🇺🇸 United StatesEntry Rules1 recorded versionLast change 3 Sept 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

As of 1 January 2026, Presidential Proclamation 10998 fully suspends visa issuance for all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories for nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, and for individuals using travel documents from the Palestinian Authority. It also partially suspends visa issuance for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, and all immigrant visas, for nationals of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Additionally, it partially suspends all immigrant visas for nationals of Turkmenistan. Categorical exceptions previously available under PP 10949 for immediate family, adoption, and Afghan SIVs are no longer available. Limited exceptions exist for certain diplomatic/official visas, ethnic/religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals, SIVs for U.S. government employees, and participants in certain major sporting events, as well as Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs).

Overview

Effective from 1 January 2026, the United States Department of State, following Presidential Proclamation 10998, has fully or partially suspended visa issuance to foreign nationals from 39 specified countries and individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. This action aims to bolster national security by implementing more rigorous screening procedures for visa applicants.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • People from Afghanistan, Burma, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, who will face a complete stop in getting all types of visas
  • People travelling with travel documents issued or approved by the Palestinian Authority, who will face a complete stop in getting all types of visas
  • People from Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, who will face a partial stop in getting nonimmigrant B-1/B-2, F, M, J visas, and all immigrant visas
  • People from Turkmenistan, who will face a partial stop in getting all immigrant visas
  • People from affected countries seeking immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5), as previous exemptions are no longer available
  • People from affected countries seeking adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4), as previous exemptions are no longer available
  • Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants, as previous exemptions are no longer available
  • United States employers sponsoring employees from the listed countries, as getting visas will be much harder or impossible for many types
  • Families trying to reunite with relatives from the listed countries, as visa processing will be affected
  • People seeking to take part in certain major sports events, who may be eligible for an exception
  • Ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran who are seeking immigrant visas, as they are eligible for an exception

What changed in the latest version

Before

Before 1 January 2026, Presidential Proclamation 10949 was in full effect. It placed restrictions on people entering the United States from 19 countries. Some exemptions were available under this Proclamation. These included certain family-based immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5), adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4), and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas.

After

From 1 January 2026, Presidential Proclamation 10998 stops issuing all nonimmigrant and immigrant visas for people from Afghanistan, Burma, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. This also applies to people using travel documents from the Palestinian Authority. It also partly stops issuing nonimmigrant B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, and all immigrant visas, for people from Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In addition, it partly stops issuing all immigrant visas for people from Turkmenistan. Exemptions for immediate family, adoption, and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), which were available under the previous rule (PP 10949), are no longer in place. Some limited exceptions still exist. These include certain diplomatic or official visas, ethnic or religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, people with dual nationality, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for United States government employees, and people taking part in certain major sports events. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are also exempt. A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) is someone who has been given the right to live permanently in the United States.

This change greatly restricts travel to the United States for people from the affected countries. It also affects people using travel documents from the Palestinian Authority. These people will find it very hard to get United States visas. This may lead to delays or their applications being refused. They might need a special National Interest Exception for essential travel. Businesses that employ people from these countries will face more complex situations and uncertainty in their global movement plans. Families trying to reunite will also be affected.

Explained simply

Imagine the U.S. has put up new rules at its border, like a really strict filter. From 1 January 2026, people from 39 specific countries, and anyone using Palestinian Authority travel papers, will find it much harder, or even impossible, to get most U.S. visas. It’s like some countries are completely paused for all visas, while others are paused only for certain holiday, study, or work visas. This is happening because the U.S. government wants to be extra sure that everyone entering the country is safe and doesn't pose a risk. If you already have a valid U.S. visa from before that date, you're usually fine. But if you need a new one, you'll face these new, tougher checks.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 1 Jan 2026EffectiveCritical impact
    U.S. Suspends and Partially Suspends Visa Issuance to Nationals of 39 Countries and Palestinian Authority Document Holders

    The United States (US) Department of State has stopped or partly stopped issuing visas for people from 39 countries. This also applies to people travelling with documents issued or approved by the Palestinian Authority. This rule started on 1 January 2026. It comes from Presidential Proclamation 10998. The US says this action makes the country safer through better checks and screening.

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