U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new travel ban affecting several countries, aimed at strengthening national security and improving immigration enforcement. Signed on June 4, 2025, the order will come into effect on June 9, 2025.
The ban is divided into two categories: a complete ban and a partial ban. A total of 12 countries—Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Eritrea, and Somalia—are under a complete ban, meaning citizens from these countries are not allowed to enter the U.S. for any reason. According to Trump, these countries have not cooperated with U.S. immigration policies, often refusing to take back deported citizens or having individuals who overstayed their visas.
In addition, a partial ban applies to seven other countries—Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Cuba, and Venezuela. Citizens from these nations are restricted from entering the U.S. on most types of visas, such as tourist, business, student, and exchange visas.
However, H-1B work visas are still permitted. Despite these restrictions, several groups of people are exempt from the ban. This includes U.S. green card holders, legal residents, dual citizens, athletes attending international events, refugees and asylum seekers admitted before the ban, and individuals with close family members in the U.S. Others exempt include foreign nationals who have worked with the U.S. government for over 15 years, diplomats, UN visitors, NATO officials, and Afghans with special immigrant visas.
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For individuals from the completely banned countries, new visa applications will not be accepted. Those from the partially restricted nations may experience visa delays or denials, depending on the visa type. However, if someone is already in the U.S. with a valid visa or green card, their status remains unaffected. Overall, the new travel ban introduces strict limitations but includes several exceptions for specific cases.
