United States: Nationality-Based Travel Ban for 19 Countries and a Six-Month F/M/J Ban for New Study at Harvard
President Trump has signed proclamations imposing new restrictions effective June 9, 2025 on visa issuance and travel to the United States suspending:
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both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen
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immigrant visa issuance, as well as nonimmigrant visa issuance in the B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visa classifications for 7 countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela.
No nonimmigrant or immigrant visa that was issued before June 9 will be revoked as a result of the new ban. There are also various exceptions that may apply to nationals of any affected country – e.g. the following categories of travelers will be exempt from the proclamation’s travel restrictions:
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U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders);
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Those applying for immediate relative family-based immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5);
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Foreign nationals who are in the United States on June 9, 2025, regardless of their immigration status;
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Sportsmen traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;
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Etc.
The second proclamation, known as the “Harvard proclamation,” immediately suspends the issuance of F, M, and J visas for anyone intending to study at Harvard University, with the measure lasting for at least six months. It also instructs the Secretary of State to evaluate whether current F, M, or J visa holders at Harvard should have their visas revoked. Exceptions to the visa suspension may be granted for foreign nationals whose entry is considered in the national interest, as determined by the Secretaries of State or Homeland Security, though the specific process for obtaining such exceptions has not yet been outlined.