How to prepare for the new travel ban -USA Hello

New travel ban

On June 4, 2025, the Trump administration announced a new travel ban that blocks or limits entry to the U.S. for people from certain countries. It takes effect June 9, 2025.

https://usahello.org/immigration/your-rights/refugee-travel-document/

There are two types of restrictions:

1. Full travel bans for 12 countries

People from these countries are not allowed to enter the U.S. unless they qualify for a specific exception:

1. Afghanistan
2. Burma
3. Chad
4. Republic of the Congo
5. Equatorial Guinea
6. Eritrea
7. Haiti
8. Iran
9. Libya
10. Somalia
11. Sudan
12. Yemen

Exceptions (meaning you can still enter)  include:

• People who have valid visas as of June 9, 2025
• Green Card holders (lawful permanent residents)
• Dual nationals using a passport from a country not on the list
• Certain family members of U.S. citizens:

              -Spouses (IR-1/CR-1)

              -Children (IR-2/CR-2)

              -Parents (IR-5, if the U.S. citizen child is over 21)

              -Adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4)

• Afghan SIV holders and certain U.S. government-affiliated SIVs
• Asylees, refugees, and parolees
• Follow-to-join refugees and derivative asylees (the spouse and children of people granted asylum)
• Certain diplomatic and official visa holders (A, G, NATO)
• Some religious or ethnic minorities from Iran
• Athletes and their staff attending major international events

Important:

•  If you are from one of these 12 countries and you leave the U.S., you may not be allowed to return. Even if you are exempt from the ban (for example, you have a Green Card) you could face problems when trying to re-enter the U.S.
•  If you travel to one of these countries (even if you are not from there), you could face extra screening or reentry issues, especially if you are not a U.S. citizen.
• Visa types included in the ban (meaning they cannot be used to enter) include: 
  
  • -Employment-based visas (H, L, O, etc.)
  • -Student and visitor visas (F, M, J, B)

2. Partial restrictions for 7 countries

Some travelers from these countries can still enter the U.S., but certain visa types are restricted:

1. Burundi
2. Cuba
3. Laos
4. Sierra Leone
5. Togo
6. Turkmenistan
7. Venezuela

Partial restrictions mean:

• No new immigrant visas (to enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident)
• No non-immigrant visas in the B, J, F, or M categories
• Shorter visa eligibility times for other non-immigrant categories
• Longer screening and processing times
• Extra paperwork or interviews
• More questions at the airport or border
• Green Card holders from these countries should not be affected

For more information please click here: 

https://usahello.org/immigration/your-rights/refugee-travel-document/