The United States Department of State has announced that, beginning January 1, 2026, it will partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to nationals of 19 countries 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 restrictions will take effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on New Year’s Day.

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 Zimbabwe

Under the new measures, the suspension will impact the issuance of:

Non-immigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas All immigrant visas

However, the proclamation provides limited exemptions. 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 eligible U.S. government employees Participants in major international sporting events Lawful permanent residents of the United States

U.S. officials say the move is designed to strengthen national security by addressing gaps in screening, vetting, and information-sharing, including concerns about visa overstay rates among certain nationalities.

Importantly, the State Department has clarified that no previously issued visas will be revoked as a result of the proclamation.

For further details, applicants are advised to consult the U.S. Department of State website or contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.