Starting June 9, 2025, most citizens of 19 named countries will find the US effectively closed to them for tourism, study or permanent immigration. Limited case-by-case waivers may apply, but they are discretionary and require proving a compelling US national interest.

Anyone holding those nationalities should verify their specific situation with the nearest US embassy or take professional advice.

 

US Travel Ban & Restrictions from June 2025

 

On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed a presidential proclamation titled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public-Safety Threats.” The proclamation was issued under Immigration and Nationality Act §212(f), which allows the president to bar classes of foreign nationals whose admission is deemed “detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

The new order completely bars travel for citizens of 12 countries and imposes narrower restrictions on seven others.

The White House says the countries were chosen for poor identity-verification, high visa-overstay rates or a “large-scale presence of terrorists.”

The restrictions will take effect from 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 9, 2025.

A formal review of each listed country’s cooperation is due every 90 days. Restrictions may therefore be lifted, tightened or extended. Travelers are advised to stay updated with the latest official guidance, and to take advice on their specific circumstances to ensure compliance with the current regulations.

 

Who is affected?

 

Nationals of Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen face a full suspension. Under the effective entry ban, the United States will issue no new immigrant or non-immigrant visas to citizens of these 12 nations, and airlines have been instructed not to board travelers holding their passports unless the traveler falls under an explicit exception or has obtained an approved waiver.

Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela are subject to a partial suspension. Immigrant visas as well as B-1/B-2 tourist or business visas and F/M/J study- or exchange-related visas are barred, but they may still seek other non-immigrant categories (such as H-1B, L-1, or O work visas, or diplomatic A/G/NATO visas). Even then, consular officers must limit the validity of any visa issued, and obtaining a discretionary waiver will be more difficult.

The ban applies only to individuals currently abroad. Citizens of affected countries already in the US may remain under existing status but, if they depart, may not be able to re-enter.

The order also does not cancel any status that is already valid, so people from the listed countries who are lawfully in the United States may remain for the duration of their current status.

 

Country	Nature of restriction	Practical effect
Afghanistan	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Burma (Myanmar)	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Chad	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Republic of the Congo	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Equatorial Guinea	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Eritrea	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Haiti	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Iran	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Libya	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Somalia	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Sudan	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Yemen	Full suspension	Total bar on new visas and carrier boarding for passport holders unless they fall under a listed exception or hold an approved waiver.
Burundi	Partial suspension	Immigrant, tourist/business (B-1/B-2) and study/exchange (F/M/J) visas are barred; other temporary work or diplomatic visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1, O, A/G/NATO) may still be issued, but validity is shortened and waivers are harder to obtain.
Cuba	Partial suspension	Immigrant, tourist/business (B-1/B-2) and study/exchange (F/M/J) visas are barred; other temporary work or diplomatic visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1, O, A/G/NATO) may still be issued, but validity is shortened and waivers are harder to obtain.
Laos	Partial suspension	Immigrant, tourist/business (B-1/B-2) and study/exchange (F/M/J) visas are barred; other temporary work or diplomatic visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1, O, A/G/NATO) may still be issued, but validity is shortened and waivers are harder to obtain.
Sierra Leone	Partial suspension	Immigrant, tourist/business (B-1/B-2) and study/exchange (F/M/J) visas are barred; other temporary work or diplomatic visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1, O, A/G/NATO) may still be issued, but validity is shortened and waivers are harder to obtain.
Togo	Partial suspension	Immigrant, tourist/business (B-1/B-2) and study/exchange (F/M/J) visas are barred; other temporary work or diplomatic visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1, O, A/G/NATO) may still be issued, but validity is shortened and waivers are harder to obtain.
Turkmenistan	Partial suspension	Immigrant, tourist/business (B-1/B-2) and study/exchange (F/M/J) visas are barred; other temporary work or diplomatic visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1, O, A/G/NATO) may still be issued, but validity is shortened and waivers are harder to obtain.
Venezuela	Partial suspension	Immigrant, tourist/business (B-1/B-2) and study/exchange (F/M/J) visas are barred; other temporary work or diplomatic visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1, O, A/G/NATO) may still be issued, but validity is shortened and waivers are harder to obtain.

 

 

 

How will the restrictions work?

 

Following the proclamation, US embassies and consulates have been ordered to stop processing barred visa categories for citizens of the 19 listed countries; any pending applications must be refused unless the applicant secures an individual waiver.

Using real-time instructions sent through the DHS-CBP “no-board” system, airlines and other relevant carriers must deny boarding to passengers whose passport nationality is subject to the ban and who do not hold a valid, exempt visa.

At US land, sea and air ports, CBP officers are instructed to refuse admission to travelers from the affected countries who arrive without a qualifying exception or waiver; the proclamation also directs DHS and the State Department to coordinate with domestic and international partners to implement these rules consistently.

 

Exceptions to the restrictions

 

Although the proclamation imposes sweeping bars on whole categories of travelers, Section 4(b) enumerates several narrow exceptions. These carve-outs are designed to keep families together, honour prior US commitments (for example to Afghan SIV holders) and allow essential diplomatic or high-profile travel to continue. As such, anyone who fits one of the categories below may still be admitted, provided they clear regular security screening and, where required, obtain advance authorisation or a waiver:

 

• US lawful permanent residents (“green-card” holders)
• Dual nationals traveling on a passport of a non-listed country
• Certain diplomatic/official visas (A, C-2/3, G, NATO)
• Immediate-relative immigrant visas with DNA-verified relationships
• Afghan special-immigrant-visa (SIV) holders and other qualifying SIV recipients
• Case-by-case national-interest waivers authorised by the Secretary of State or Attorney General
• Nationals attending major sporting events hosted in the US (e.g., 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Olympics)

 

Importantly, these exemptions do not guarantee admission; travelers must still satisfy standard inspection and security checks, and airlines will demand proof of exemption before boarding. Take advice if you are unsure about your eligibility for an exemption.

 

Implications for citizens from the listed countries

 

For most citizens of the 12 fully banned states, the new rules mean that travel to the United States will not be possible after June 9, 2025. Only those who already hold US lawful permanent residence, who can travel on a second passport from a country that is not on the list or who fall within one of the narrow humanitarian or diplomatic exceptions will be able to secure a visa or board a flight.

Nationals of the seven “partially restricted” countries face a somewhat softer barrier. They may still apply for certain temporary work visas, such as H-1B, L-1 or O classifications, as well as diplomatic travel or urgent medical waivers. However, tourism, study, and permanent immigration are off-limits unless and until the proclamation is changed.

Visas issued to affected individuals outside the US before June 9, 2025, remain valid only if belonging to an exempt category. Travelers whose visas do not meet that test should expect to be denied boarding at their point of departure or refused entry at the US border.

All travelers from the affected states should plan for secondary screening and longer processing times. Even those who qualify for an exception must be prepared to provide extra documentation and to endure delays.

Dual nationals may continue to use a passport from a non-listed country, but consular officers and border agents can scrutinize other evidence, such as the traveler’s place of birth, and may subject them to additional questioning.

Finally, the list of countries is not fixed. The proclamation authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State to add or remove countries based on updated security assessments. Travelers should therefore keep a close watch on embassy alerts and official notices before making any plans.

 

Implications for employers of affected individuals

 

Employers that rely on talent from the 19 listed countries should move quickly but carefully. We advise taking guidance on your specific circumstances.

As a general approach, you may wish to consider auditing your personnel records: review I-9 files, visa copies, passport data and travel histories to identify anyone who holds, or may be treated as holding, nationality from a listed country and who may need a fresh US visa, a change-of-status approval or an international trip after June 9, 2025. Handle the results as highly sensitive information and avoid broad e-mails or public “country lists” that could be seen as discriminatory.

Once potential cases are flagged, confirm each person’s exact immigration status and next critical date. Check I-94 expiry dates, pending extension or green card filings and any consular appointments already booked. Where possible, submit extension or change of status petitions while the employee remains in the United States, so the case can be approved without a consulate visit.

Until the policy landscape settles, you may need to consider postponing non-essential international travel for affected employees and candidates who are in the US and fall under the ban. If a trip is unavoidable, prepare a contingency plan; remote work outside the United States, or a temporary assignment in another jurisdiction, should re-entry be refused.

For candidates from the seven “partially restricted” countries, remember that certain temporary work visas, such as the H-1B, L-1 and O-1, remain available. File those petitions early and, where rules allow, request the maximum validity period. For the 12 fully banned countries, consider alternative talent-mobility routes outside the United States (e.g. Canada, the United Kingdom or the EU?) while monitoring the possibility of case-by-case waivers.

Because overstays and status gaps can trigger enforcement, complete timely I-9 reverification and prepare for possible site visits. Front-line HR staff should know how to respond if ICE or USCIS inspectors arrive and should escalate unusual questions to legal counsel immediately.

Throughout this process, apply the same standards to everyone, regardless of nationality, to avoid discrimination claims. Decisions to cancel travel, rescind offers or impose extra compliance steps must be grounded in objective immigration-risk analysis, not assumptions or stereotypes.

Finally, assign a compliance lead to track the government’s 90-day review cycles. The proclamation lets DHS and the State Department add or remove countries or change waiver criteria at any time. Having a standing escalation plan and a designated point of contact for rapidly evolving guidance will help your organization protect its workforce and keep projects on track.

 

Need assistance?

 

If you are an employer concerned about the impact of the restrictions on your US-based workforce or on your US-bound talent mobility program, contact us for guidance on navigating these new regulations.

Likewise, if you hold, or may be considered to hold, nationality from any of the 19 listed countries, speak with our qualified US immigration attorneys before making US-bound travel plans. The restrictions are being reviewed every 90 days, exemptions can shift without notice, and carriers have zero discretion once a “no-board” flag is in the system. A brief consultation now can prevent costly denial of boarding, detention at the port of entry or the loss of hard-earned status later.