What You Need to Know About the New June 2025 Travel Ban

On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed a new executive order that restricts visa issuance and travel to the United States for people from 19 countries. If you, your family, or your employees are from one of these countries, or if you're applying for a visa, you may be wondering what this means for you.

Here’s a breakdown of the new rules, who’s affected, and what you can do now to protect your immigration plans.

Which Countries Are Affected?

The new travel ban places restrictions on two groups of countries:

• Full Restrictions (No visas allowed): Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

  Citizens of these countries will generally not be able to get any type of visa, immigrant or nonimmigrant, unless they qualify for a narrow exception.

• Partial Restrictions (Some visas still allowed): Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

  People from these countries can still apply for certain types of visas, but others, like visitor visas (B-1/B-2), student visas (F, M), and exchange visas (J), will be restricted.

Who Is Not Affected by the Ban?

You are not affected by this new policy if:

• You are a U.S. green card holder (lawful permanent resident).

• You already have a valid visa issued before June 9, 2025.

• You are a dual national and plan to travel using a passport from a country not on the banned list.

• You are an immediate family member of a U.S. citizen entering on an immigrant visa.

• You are traveling for certain diplomatic, humanitarian, or national interest reasons.

There are also exceptions for adopted children, athletes participating in major international events, and specific groups such as Afghan and Iranian religious minorities.

When Does the Ban Start?

The new travel restrictions went into effect on June 9, 2025. If you’re outside the U.S. and planning to apply for a visa, your ability to get one may depend on whether your application is processed before that date and which country you're from.

How This May Affect You

If you're from one of the listed countries and:

• You don’t yet have a visa, you may be blocked from getting one depending on your visa type.

• You have a valid visa, you can still travel, but we recommend speaking with an attorney before making any international travel plans.

• You’re applying for a green card, you may still qualify, especially if you’re the spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen, but consular processing may be delayed or more complicated.

What Should You Do Now?

If you think the travel ban might affect you or someone you know, here are some steps to take right away:

1. Get legal advice before you travel. If you're already in the U.S. and considering leaving, make sure reentry is possible.

2. Explore exemptions or waivers. Some people may qualify for special permission to enter despite the ban.

3. Don't wait for your case to be denied. A proactive strategy can make all the difference.

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Disclaimer: This post is attorney advertising. It is meant as general information only, and is not legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. We suggest you set up a consultation with us before acting on anything you read here. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every case is unique and must be analyzed individually.