Travel (Visa Issuance) Ban Expansion

On December 16, 2025, the White House announced expanded and modified travel restrictions that are set to go into effect at 12:01a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2026. Please see below for important information regarding the scope of these restrictions.

Full Restrictions – Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Burma/Myanmar, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents

Impact: New visas and renewals of all immigrant and non-immigrant visas*

Partial Restrictions – – Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cuba, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Venezuela

Impact: New visas and renewals of all immigrant visas and tourist, student, and exchange visitor visas (B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, J)

Modified Partial Restrictions – Turkmenistan

Impact: Only new immigrant visas (removal of prior restrictions on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, J visas)

*Limited exceptions, including entry of lawful permanent residents with green cards, existing visa holders, family of U.S. citizens with waivers, and certain categories deemed in the national interest.

Guidance for Students and Scholars (F, J) from Impacted Countries: If you are in the U.S. in active F-1 or J-1 status and do not have plans to travel internationally, you should not be impacted by this update. If you have plans to travel internationally and are in possession of an unexpired visa issued before January 1, 2026, you may be eligible to re-enter the U.S. after January 1. While the ban does not place restrictions on existing visa-holders, the International Center continues to strongly recommend that students and scholars from designated full or partial restriction countries reconsider unnecessary international travel at this time due to increased risk. If you are from an impacted country and plan to travel internationally during winter break, please contact your I-Center Advisor for guidance.

Guidance for Employees (H-1B, O-1, etc.) from Impacted Countries: Please note that the “partial restrictions” listed above do not apply to most employment visa categories, with the exception of J-1. However, we advise that all employees, and especially those from countries on either list, prepare for additional scrutiny at U.S. ports of entry If you are in the U.S. in active status and do not have plans to travel internationally, you should not be impacted by this update. If you have plans to travel internationally and are possession of an unexpired visa issued before January 1, 2026, you may be eligible to re-enter the U.S. after January 1. While this ban does not place restrictions on existing visa-holders, the International Center continues to strongly recommend that employees from designated countries reconsider unnecessary travel at this time. As a reminder, you should discuss any travel with your I-Center Advisor due to nuances regarding this ban and the previously-announced H-1B fee.

We understand that this update may cause significant concern regarding upcoming travel for the holidays. Please note that I-Center Advisors will be available for advising and document issuance during winter break, with the exception of December 24 through January 1. Immigration-related emergencies during this period of closure should be directed to Tufts University Police Department, who will contact the appropriate I-Center staff as needed.