On the evening of June 4, 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order that will prevent or limit the entry of nationals from specific countries. The restrictions will go into effect on June 9, 2025. Only individuals who are outside of the country and have not been issued a valid visa at that time will be impacted. The administration issued a separate order that will prevent the entry of new academic students seeking to enroll at Harvard University and exchange visitors who are beginning programs hosted by the university.
The country-based travel ban imposes full restrictions (including those with employment-based visa statuses) on nationals from 12 countries, completely barring their entry into the United States. These countries are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The order also enforces a “partial” ban on nationals from seven countries, restricting entry for B visa visitors, students, and exchange visitors. The affected countries under this partial ban are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Both the total and partial bans apply exclusively to individuals who are outside of the United States and do not possess a valid visa as of 12:01 am on June 9, 2025.
There are, however, several exemptions to these bans. The restrictions do not apply to lawful permanent residents (green card holders), dual nationals traveling with the passport of a non‑banned country, certain immigrant visa holders who have not yet entered the U.S., diplomatic visa holders, and athletes traveling to certain major sporting events. The executive order also allows for case-by-case exceptions that may be granted on a discretionary basis if deemed to be in the national interest of the U.S.
In a separate executive order, the administration suspended the entry of new academic students in the F and M visa categories and exchange visitors in the J-1 visa category, including international medical graduates, who are seeking to enroll in or participate in programs sponsored by Harvard University. The restriction is effective immediately and will remain in place for six months. National interest exceptions may be available for individuals affected by the order as well. The order indicates that entry of continuing students and program participants are not restricted under this order.
Individuals who are affected by these executive orders will not be able to enter the U.S. or obtain visas while the bans remain in effect.
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