Visa Pauses and Travel Bans: Overview of Who’s Affected

Frequent immigration policy shifts can make it difficult to stay up to date with current procedures and know what applies to you. Below we provide a brief timeline and overview of some recent visa processing adjustments and travel restrictions to help you better understand these changes.

If you have further questions, our immigration attorneys are happy to speak with you.

January 14, 2026: United States Pauses Green Card Processing for 75 Countries.

This announcement pauses Green Card (immigrant visa) processing outside the U.S. for nationals of 75 countries.

Applies to: Employment-based (EB) and family based Green Card petitions for nationals of these 75 countries. The announcement applies to individuals not currently in the United States.

Does not apply to: nonimmigrant visas.

Effective date: January 21, 2026.

December 17, 2025: President Trump Expands Travel Ban

This proclamation lists countries which will face restricted entry into the United States. There are two categories: partial suspension and full suspension.

Partial suspension: applies to immigrants and the following nonimmigrant visa categories: B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.

Full suspension: applies to all immigrant and nonimmigrant visas.

Exclusions:

• Green Card holders,
• Dual nationals traveling with a passport issued by a non-restricted country,
• Athletic team members participating in the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting events,
• Special immigrant visas for United States government employees,
• Immigrant visas for minorities (ethnic and religious) facing persecution in Iran.

To see the countries impacted by this proclamation, click here.

Effective date: January 1, 2026.

December 4: USCIS Pauses Visa Processing for 19 countries of concern

USCIS places a hold on processing for asylum applications and immigration benefits requests made by individuals of 19 countries. The policy memorandum also directs USCIS to re-review approved benefits requests for nationals from countries facing full and partially suspended entry into the United States who have entered the US since January 20, 2021.

Applies to: 

• all Forms I-589 (Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal),
• all pending benefits requests for nationals from the 19 countries identified in the June 4 proclamation.

Effective date: December 2, 2025.

June 4: Trump Announces Travel Bans and Restrictions for 19 Countries

19 countries face full and partially suspended entry into the United States.

Partial suspension: applies to foreign nationals entering the United States from 7 designated countries via B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.

Full suspension: applies to foreign nationals entering on any nonimmigrant or immigrant visa from 12 countries.

Effective Date: June 9, 2025.