If you’ve tried to book an international flight lately or help a family member with a visa application, you know the landscape has shifted. It’s a mess out there. Things are moving fast, and what was true three months ago basically isn't true today. Since the start of 2026, the list of nations facing entry restrictions has grown significantly.
Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of.
The federal government recently rolled out Presidential Proclamation 10998, which basically overhauled the previous rules from mid-2025. This isn't just one single list where everyone is "banned" in the same way. It's more of a tiered system. Some countries are fully blocked, some are partially restricted, and others are stuck in a weird "pause" that looks a lot like a ban but is technically different.
What Are the Countries in the Travel Ban Right Now?
As of mid-January 2026, the list of countries facing the strictest entry suspensions has hit 19. If you’re a national of one of these places and you’re currently outside the U.S. without a valid visa, you generally cannot get in. These are the "Full Restriction" countries.
The "Full Restriction" list includes:
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso (Newly added)
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Laos (Upgraded from partial to full)
- Libya
- Mali (Newly added)
- Niger (Newly added)
- Sierra Leone (Upgraded from partial to full)
- Somalia
- South Sudan (Newly added)
- Sudan
- Syria (Newly added)
- Yemen
There is also a specific restriction on individuals using travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
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Why these specific places? The White House points to "screening and vetting deficiencies." Basically, the U.S. government claims these countries don't share enough data or have stable enough governments to verify who is actually coming across the border. For instance, in places like Mali and Burkina Faso, recent coups and militant activity have made it almost impossible for the State Department to work with local officials.
The "Partial" Restrictions Are a Different Beast
Then there are the countries where the door is only half-shut. If you’re from one of these 20 nations, you might be able to get a specialized work visa (like an H-1B), but you are likely barred from getting a standard tourist visa (B-1/B-2), a student visa (F or M), or an exchange visitor visa (J).
The partial list currently covers:
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.
It’s interesting to see Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica on here. They aren't war zones. Instead, they were added because of their "Citizenship by Investment" programs. Basically, you can buy a passport there without ever living there. The U.S. government doesn't like that because it makes it harder to know a traveler’s true background.
The 75-Country Immigrant Visa Freeze
Here is where things get really confusing. On January 14, 2026, a new directive came down that effectively "paused" immigrant visa processing for 75 different countries.
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This is huge.
It’s not technically part of the "travel ban" proclamation, but for anyone waiting on a green card, the result is the same. This pause targets countries deemed "high risk" for becoming a public charge. We’re talking about Brazil, Egypt, Russia, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, alongside many others.
If you’re from one of these countries, you can still go to your interview, but the State Department won't actually issue the visa right now. They’re basically putting everyone in a holding pattern while they review "financial self-sufficiency" rules. It’s a massive backlog waiting to happen.
Who Is Actually Safe?
If you are already in the U.S. on a valid visa, take a breath. The rules (at least for now) state that existing, valid visas will not be revoked. However, if you leave the country to visit home and your visa expires while you're away, you’re in trouble. Getting a new visa is the hard part.
Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) are generally exempt. Same goes for dual nationals, as long as you are traveling on a passport from a country that isn't on the list. If you have both a Syrian and a French passport, use the French one.
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The Visa Bond Surprise
To add another layer of complexity, 38 countries now require a "Visa Bond." This is basically a cash deposit you have to pay—anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000—just to get a B-1/B-2 visa. If you overstay, the government keeps the money. Countries like Nigeria, Nepal, and Bangladesh were recently added to this list because of high overstay rates.
Navigating the National Interest Waiver
If you’re caught in the middle of this, your only real hope is a "National Interest Exception" (NIE). These are hard to get. You have to prove that your entry to the U.S. provides a significant benefit to the country.
Common reasons for an exception:
- Critical Business: You’re an executive or specialist for a multi-billion dollar project.
- Medical Emergencies: You need a life-saving surgery only available in the U.S.
- Special Minorities: There is a specific carve-out for religious or ethnic minorities facing persecution in Iran.
- Major Events: Certain athletes and coaches coming for the World Cup or Olympics.
Don't count on these being handed out like candy. They are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and require a lot of paperwork.
What You Should Do Now
If you have family or employees in any of these countries, the window for "wait and see" has closed.
- Check the Passport: Verify which country issued the travel document. If it's a Palestinian Authority document or a passport from a "Full Restriction" country, travel plans need to be cancelled or indefinitely postponed.
- Audit Your Visas: If you are a national of a restricted country currently in the U.S., check your visa's expiration date. Do not leave the country if your visa is about to expire, as you may not be able to renew it abroad.
- Talk to a Lawyer: This isn't a DIY situation anymore. The 2026 rules are significantly more aggressive than the ones we saw in 2017 or 2020.
- Financial Prep: If you’re from a country on the Visa Bond list, start liquifying the $5,000 to $15,000 you’ll need for the deposit. Without that cash up front, the interview won't even proceed.
The list is likely to change again by summer. The proclamation includes an "ongoing review" clause, meaning countries can be added or removed with very little notice. Keep an eye on the State Department’s consular cables for the most up-to-the-minute shifts.