U.S. Travel Ban to Impact Visa Holders from 19 Countries Starting June 9

On June 4, 2025 the White House announced its much anticipated  U.S. Travel Ban

The travel ban is set to go in effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on Monday, June 9. The list of countries is narrower, for now, than what was originally under consideration by the White House.

The scope of the ban applies prospectively to foreign nationals who:

• Are outside the U.S. on the effective date, and
• Do not possess a valid visa on the effective date.

Country-Specific Restrictions:

Full Entry Suspension (12 countries):  Applies to both nonimmigrant and immigrant visa holders in all categories who are solely nationals of:

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

Partial Entry Suspension (7 countries): Restricts new immigrant visas, as well as B (visitor), F (student), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visas for those who are solely nationals of:

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

For all other nonimmigrant visas, Consular Officers are directed to limit visa validity, likely to the shortest period permitted under the Visa Reciprocity Schedule.

Exemptions:

The ban does not apply to:

• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents ( “green card” holders)
• Dual nationals traveling on or applying with a passport from a non-restricted country
• Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA)
• Certain diplomatic, official, and international organization nonimmigrant visas
• Athletes, members of athletic teams, and immediate relatives traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or select major sporting events
• Afghan Special Immigrant Visas
• Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
• Special Immigrant Visas for U.S. Government employees
• National Interest Exceptions: Case-by-case exceptions to the travel ban may be granted by the DOJ or DOS for individuals whose travel is determined to serve a critical U.S. national interest

Review and Legal Outlook

• The policy will be reviewed in 90 days, and then every 180 days thereafter.
• Litigation is likely and may impact implementation or scope.

Affected individuals and employers should promptly assess the potential impact, as the ban is set to take effect imminently, on June 9.

We also continue to advise individuals from other countries to carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of nonessential travel, given the continued unpredictability of the U.S. immigration landscape.

 We will continue to closely monitor developments and will share updates as the situation evolves.