On June 4, 2025, the Trump administration issued a Proclamation fully restricting the entry of foreign nationals from 12 designated countries, and imposing targeted visa restrictions on foreign nationals from 7 additional countries. The restrictions take effect on June 9, 2025 at 12:01 am EDT.

Fully Restricted Countries
As of June 9, 2025, entry to the U.S. on both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas is suspended for nationals of the following countries:

• Afghanistan
• Burma
• Chad
• Republic of Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Suden
• Yemen

Partially Restricted Countries

As of June 9, 2025, entry to the U.S. pursuant to an immigrant visa or on a B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2 (business visitor/tourist), F and M (student), and J (exchange visitor) visa is suspended for nationals from the following countries.

• Burundi
• Cuba
• Laos
• Sierra Leone
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela

The entry suspensions apply to foreign nationals from the designated countries who:

• 1. are outside of the U.S. on June 9, 2025 and
• 2. do not have a valid visa on June 9, 2025.

Exceptions to Travel Restrictions
The travel restrictions do not apply to:

• · U.S. lawful permanent residents;
• · Dual nationals of a restricted country when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by non-restricted country;
• · Foreign nationals traveling with a valid nonimmigrant visa in the following classifications: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6;
• · Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;
• · Immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship;
• · Adoptions (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4);
• · Afghan Special Immigrant Visas;
• · Special Immigrant Visas for United States government employees; and
• · Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.

The proclamation does not apply to any individual already granted asylum, refugees already admitted to the United States, or to individuals granted withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CAT). Nothing in the proclamation is intended to limit the rights of an individual to seek asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the CAT, consistent with the laws of the United States.

Additionally, the proclamation explicitly provides that no immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before June 9, 2025 shall be revoked pursuant to the proclamation. However, the fact that the visa has not been revoked does not mean it is valid for entry to the U.S. after June 9, as the proclamation explicitly restricts entry as of that date.

Discretionary Exceptions

The proclamation provides for a “national interest” exemption in cases where the Attorney General or the Secretary of State finds travel would be in the national interest of the United States. A national interest exemption is discretionary. The proclamation does not specify the scope of such exemptions and the procedure to request an exemption.

Periodic Review
The Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security and the Director for National Intelligence will periodically review whether the restrictions should be continued, terminated, modified or supplemented within 90 days of the proclamation and every 180 days thereafter.
The proclamation also specifically requires the Secretary of State to determine whether travel restrictions should be imposed on nationals of Egypt.

Impact

Nationals from the designated countries should confer with legal counsel to understand the scope and impact of the travel restrictions on their unique situation prior to departing the U.S. Impacted foreign nationals who are outside of the U.S. should confer with counsel to plan return prior to June 9, the effective date of the proclamation, where feasible.

We will provide additional information as the restrictions and exemption protocols are implemented.

For additional information, please contact your designated Van Der Hout representative.