2026 Travel Ban Explainer

Beginning January 1, 2026, the Trump Administration’s restrictions on immigrant and non-immigrant entry to the United States, also known as the “Travel Ban”, will impact 39 countries. Additionally, the Trump Administration has announced various USCIS policy changes that will impact the applications of individuals from the “Travel Ban” countries. Please refer to the charts below, created by IRAP, to locate the affected countries and exceptions. 

In Appendix A, the countries listed as “full ban” mean that there is a complete halt of immigrant and non-immigrant entry into the United States from nationals of the listed countries. 

People from the listed countries, even those listed under the “full ban,” will still be able to apply for visa issuance and admission. However, even if fully eligible for the visa, DOS offices are instructed to issue a refusal under 212(f) of the INA. For partially banned countries, the DOS has been directed to reduce the number of visas issued and available. 

The travel ban will not apply to people with valid visas to enter as of the start of the travel ban (01/01/26), current permanent residents (green card holders), or dual nationals who travel on passports from non-listed countries. However, although the travel ban does not revoke valid visas or affect those with valid immigration status already in the United States, USCIS has placed a hold on immigration benefits pending a re-review for applicants from the listed travel ban countries. They have also deemed nationality from one of these countries as a negative factor in consideration for discretionary adjudication. USCIS will implement new policies for re-reviewing applications for immigration benefits for anyone from the listed countries with a pending application. 

The most significant changes for the January 2026 travel ban expansion are the removal of two major exceptions from the June 2025 ban. First, as of November 2025, the Department of State has suspended all visa issuance and processing for nationals of Afghanistan without any listed exceptions. This includes Afghan SIVs. Second, immigrant visas for immediate relatives of US citizens in the listed countries have been halted.