At 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026, Presidential Proclamation 10998 formally came into force, triggering the most sweeping U.S. travel ban since 2017. The measure fully suspends visa issuance and entry for nationals of 19 countries—ranging from Afghanistan and Iran to Haiti and Syria—and partially suspends B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas, plus all immigrant visas, for an additional 19 nations, including Nigeria, Cuba and Venezuela. Individuals traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority are also barred.
Unlike earlier proclamations, the latest order withdraws family-based and adoption exceptions and tightens carve-outs to a handful of diplomatic and national-interest categories. Foreign nationals already in possession of valid visas are not affected, but those outside the United States without a visa on the effective date are subject to the suspension.
For multinational employers, the ban immediately restricts the mobility of staff, customers and vendors from nearly 20 percent of African states and several strategic energy partners in the Middle East. Companies with operations in mining, oil & gas, development and NGO sectors will need to review assignee pipelines and consider third-country hubs for training or onboarding. Human-resources teams should expect higher demand for remote-work arrangements and short-term assignments outside the United States while waiver requests are adjudicated.
![U.S. Implements Expanded Travel Ban on 39 Countries as Proclamation 10998 Takes Effect]()
In this fast-moving climate, VisaHQ can serve as a practical ally for both corporate mobility teams and individual travelers. Through our U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/), users can monitor real-time changes to entry restrictions, explore alternative visa options, and submit waiver or humanitarian requests with guided support—streamlining compliance and minimizing travel disruptions.
Travel-risk managers should also brief employees on secondary-inspection exposure. CBP officers now have updated watch-lists that mirror the proclamation, increasing the likelihood of enhanced screening for dual nationals and recent travelers to the listed countries. Carriers will face new document-checking obligations at departure gates, and corporate travel buyers should prepare for last-minute re-ticketing costs if passengers are denied boarding.
Consular operations worldwide are already updating appointment systems to reflect the suspension; routine B-1/B-2 and student-visa slots are expected to disappear for affected nationalities, further straining global appointment supply. Organizations should monitor State Department guidance and leverage in-country counsel to explore humanitarian, UN-backed or national-interest exemptions where business continuity is critical.
Unlike earlier proclamations, the latest order withdraws family-based and adoption exceptions and tightens carve-outs to a handful of diplomatic and national-interest categories. Foreign nationals already in possession of valid visas are not affected, but those outside the United States without a visa on the effective date are subject to the suspension.
For multinational employers, the ban immediately restricts the mobility of staff, customers and vendors from nearly 20 percent of African states and several strategic energy partners in the Middle East. Companies with operations in mining, oil & gas, development and NGO sectors will need to review assignee pipelines and consider third-country hubs for training or onboarding. Human-resources teams should expect higher demand for remote-work arrangements and short-term assignments outside the United States while waiver requests are adjudicated.
In this fast-moving climate, VisaHQ can serve as a practical ally for both corporate mobility teams and individual travelers. Through our U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/), users can monitor real-time changes to entry restrictions, explore alternative visa options, and submit waiver or humanitarian requests with guided support—streamlining compliance and minimizing travel disruptions.
Travel-risk managers should also brief employees on secondary-inspection exposure. CBP officers now have updated watch-lists that mirror the proclamation, increasing the likelihood of enhanced screening for dual nationals and recent travelers to the listed countries. Carriers will face new document-checking obligations at departure gates, and corporate travel buyers should prepare for last-minute re-ticketing costs if passengers are denied boarding.
Consular operations worldwide are already updating appointment systems to reflect the suspension; routine B-1/B-2 and student-visa slots are expected to disappear for affected nationalities, further straining global appointment supply. Organizations should monitor State Department guidance and leverage in-country counsel to explore humanitarian, UN-backed or national-interest exemptions where business continuity is critical.
