U.S. Partially Suspends Visa Issuance for Nationals of 19 Countries Starting January 1
Washington, D.C. — December 24, 2025
The United States Department of State has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance for nationals of 19 countries, effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The measure is being implemented in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
According to the announcement, the affected countries are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The partial suspension applies to several categories of visas, including non-immigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as all categories of immigrant visas. U.S. authorities clarified that the policy is intended to address identified deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing processes, as well as concerns related to visa overstay rates and broader national security considerations.
However, the proclamation provides for limited exceptions. These include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with a passport from a country not subject to the suspension, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for certain U.S. government employees, participants in major international sporting events, and lawful permanent residents of the United States.
The Department of State emphasized that no visas issued prior to the effective date of the proclamation will be revoked as a result of the new policy. Affected individuals are advised to consult the U.S. Department of State’s official website or contact the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate for further information and guidance.
U.S. officials reiterated that the measures are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen border security while ensuring that immigration processes remain aligned with national security priorities.
