If you've been checking the news lately, you've probably seen that things are moving fast with U.S. immigration. Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of. One day it's a proclamation about security, and the next, there's a memo about "public charges" and welfare. If you’re trying to find a straight answer on the us travel ban country list, you aren't alone. It’s messy.
Basically, as of January 2026, we are looking at two different layers of restrictions. First, there’s the big expansion of the travel ban that hit on New Year’s Day. Then, just this week, a new Department of State "pause" on immigrant visas for a much longer list of countries was announced, set to kick in on January 21.
It's not just a single list anymore; it’s more like a tiered system of who can get in, who can’t, and who has to pay a massive bond just to visit.
The Big Expansion: 39 Countries Under the January 1 Proclamation
President Trump signed Proclamation 10998 back in December, and it went live the second the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2026. This is the "official" travel ban most people are talking about. It covers 39 countries.
Some of these places are under a "full ban," meaning almost nobody is getting a visa—immigrant or tourist. Others are under a "partial ban," which mostly targets tourists (B-1/B-2), students (F/M), and exchange visitors (J).
The Full Ban List (19 Countries + Palestinian Authority)
If you're from one of these places and you don't already have a visa in your hand, getting into the U.S. right now is nearly impossible.
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- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Chad
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Laos (Moved from partial to full recently)
- Libya
- Mali
- Niger
- Republic of the Congo
- Sierra Leone (Another one that moved to the full ban list)
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
- Palestinian Authority travel documents (Individuals using these are fully restricted)
The Partial Ban List (20 Countries)
For these countries, the U.S. has mostly suspended immigrant visas and specific non-immigrant visas like the B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) and F-1 (student).
- Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The weird exception here is Turkmenistan. They actually had some restrictions lifted for non-immigrants (tourists), but their immigrants are still banned. It's a bit of a head-scratcher, but that’s the current rule.
Why the US Travel Ban Country List Just Got Much Longer
Just when everyone thought they had the 39-country list figured out, the State Department dropped a bombshell on January 14, 2026.
Starting January 21, immigrant visa processing is being "paused" for 75 different countries.
Why? The administration says it's about "public charges." They are worried that people coming from these countries will end up using U.S. welfare programs. The Guardian and other outlets reported on a leaked cable that basically says the freeze stays until the U.S. can "ensure new immigrants will not extract wealth."
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This is huge. It includes countries you wouldn't expect to see on a "travel ban" list, like Brazil, Egypt, Russia, and even the Bahamas.
If you are waiting for a green card interview in one of these 75 countries, your case is likely on ice. They might still interview you, but they aren’t handing out the actual visas.
The Visa Bond: Another Hurdle for Travelers
Wait, there’s more. On January 6, the list of countries required to pay a "visa bond" grew to 38.
If you're from a country like Nigeria, Bangladesh, or Nepal and you're lucky enough to be eligible for a tourist visa, you might still have to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or even $15,000. It’s basically a security deposit to prove you’ll actually leave the U.S. when your trip is over.
It’s expensive. It’s frustrating. And for a lot of families, it’s a total deal-breaker.
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Who is actually safe from these rules?
It’s not all bad news for everyone. There are some specific groups the us travel ban country list doesn't touch:
- Green Card Holders: If you already have your Permanent Resident card, you can generally travel, though you should expect more questions at the airport.
- Existing Visa Holders: If your visa was issued before January 1, 2026, the government says they aren't revoking it. You can still use it.
- Dual Nationals: If you have a passport from a country that isn't on the list, use that one.
- The World Cup Exception: This is a big one. Since the 2026 World Cup is happening soon, athletes and certain support staff have a "major sporting event" carve-out.
What You Should Do Next
If you or a family member is a national of any country mentioned above, don't just wing it.
First, check your visa expiration date. If it expires soon and you're outside the U.S., you might not be able to get a new one.
Second, don't leave the U.S. if you are here on a student or work visa and your country is on the full ban list. You might not be allowed back in.
Third, if you’re in the middle of an immigrant visa process for one of the 75 "public charge" countries, talk to an immigration lawyer. This "pause" starting January 21 is indefinite. You’ll need to figure out if you qualify for a "National Interest Waiver," which is basically a way to ask for an exception because your entry helps the U.S. in some way (like being a doctor or having a critical business skill).
Things are changing by the week. Keep an eye on the official State Department "Travel.State.Gov" alerts, but keep in mind that the memos often leak to the press before the website is updated.