U.S. suspends visa issuance for nationals from 19 countries under new proclamation

U.S. suspends visa issuance for nationals from 19 countries under new proclamation
Geopolitics
Webp 85y1pfax61s56g8drp9xqxoqtln0
Jeremy Berndt Chargé d’Affaires a.i. | U.S. Embassy in Libya

The United States has announced the suspension of visa issuance for nationals from 19 countries, effective June 9, 2025. This move aligns with a Presidential Proclamation aimed at protecting the country from foreign terrorists and addressing national security and public safety threats.

Visa issuance is fully suspended for nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The suspension covers all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories but includes exceptions for certain diplomatic visas and immediate relatives of U.S. citizens among others.

Additionally, a partial suspension applies to nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. This affects nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas as well as F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas along with all immigrant visas. Similar exceptions apply here as well.

"The Secretary of State or his designee may find that travel by an individual would serve the U.S. national interest on a case-by-case basis," it was noted in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security.

The proclamation only affects foreign nationals outside the United States who do not hold valid visas as of June 9th. Those with valid visas prior to this date remain unaffected by these changes.

Applicants subject to this proclamation can still submit applications but may face ineligibility issues during processing or admission into the country.

The full text detailing these measures is available on the White House website.

___