President Trump’s new travel proclamation, effective January 1, 2026, significantly expands the list of countries subject to full and partial U.S. travel bans and narrows who can qualify for exceptions or waivers. Foreign nationals from the affected countries should review their options before traveling or applying for a visa, as the new rules can bar otherwise eligible applicants from entering the United States.

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What the New Proclamation Does

On December 16, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a new Presidential Proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.” This proclamation builds on and expands the June 4, 2025 travel bans, citing “deficient” screening, vetting, and information‑sharing systems in the listed countries and invoking national security and public safety as its justification.

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The proclamation takes effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026 and will remain in place unless modified or rescinded after periodic government review. The government must report every 180 days on whether to continue, modify, lift, or expand these country‑specific restrictions.

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Countries Facing a Full Travel Ban

Under the full travel ban, entry to the United States is suspended for both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa holders from certain countries. In practice, this means most new visas will not be issued and most new entries will be blocked for affected nationals, subject only to limited case‑by‑case exceptions or waivers.

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The proclamation continues full entry suspensions for nationals of:

• Afghanistan
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

It also adds:

•  Burkina Faso
• Laos
• Mali
• Niger
• Sierra Leone
• South Sudan
• Syria
• Individuals traveling on documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.

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Countries Facing a Partial Travel Ban

The partial travel ban primarily targets temporary visitors and students by suspending or limiting B‑1/B‑2, F, M, and J visas and shortening visa validity periods educes the validity of other nonimmigrant visas (presumably to reciprocity schedule minimums) . These restrictions can prevent individuals from obtaining visitor, business, student, or exchange visas, even if they previously qualified.

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Nationals of the following countries subject to the partial ban are:

• Burundi
• Cuba
• Togo
• Venezuela

The proclamation also expands the partial ban to nationals of:

• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Benin
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Dominica
• Gabon
• The Gambia
• Malawi
• Mauritania
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

The Trump Administration removed Turkmenistan from the partial nonimmigrant visa list but the ban for immigrant visas.

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Who is Covered and Who is Not

The proclamation applies only to individuals who are outside the United States as of 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026 and who do not have a valid U.S. visa on that date. Those who already hold valid visas or are physically present in the United States generally remain eligible to use their existing status, though future visa renewals abroad may be affected.

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The travel bans do not apply to:

• Lawful permanent residents of the United States,
• Any dual nationals of a listed country when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a country not subject to the travel ban
• Certain diplomatic and international organization visa holders following visas: 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.
• Athletes, coaches, those in supporting roles, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.
• Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. Government employees.
• IVs for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
• Individuals granted asylum and refugees previously admitted to the U.S.

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Removed Exceptions: the new ban eliminates the following categorical exceptions from the June 4th, 2025 Proclamation:

• Immigrant visas for family members in the U.S.
• Adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4)
• Afghan Special Immigrant Visas

Narrowed Exceptions and Case‑by‑Case Relief

The new proclamation authorizes national‑interest exceptions  where the Attorney General, Secretary of State, or Secretary of Homeland Security determines that an individual’s entry would serve important U.S. interests. The waiver and national‑interest exception standards are discretionary and fact‑intensive, strong documentation and careful legal analysis will be crucial for anyone seeking an exception.

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Key Take Aways

• Plan travel carefully. Employers and travelers from countries covered by the expanded travel ban should review upcoming international trips with GC Ungo Team to determine whether the new rules could block reentry or visa issuance.
• Existing visas can still be used. Nationals of impacted countries who already hold a valid U.S. visa as of January 1, 2026 generally remain eligible to travel with that visa, though they may face heightened screening at the airport or border.
• Seek legal counsel: Individuals from affected countries—especially those considering travel or consular processing—should seek legal counsel to assess risks, timing, and possible strategies.

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Please contact the GC Ungo Team with any questions about how these changes may affect your travel or immigration plans.