Visas & Travel · June 9, 2025
2025 Travel Ban Proclamation: Restricted Countries, Exemptions, and What to Check Before You Travel
Key takeaway
Effective June 9, 2025, a presidential proclamation placed new entry restrictions on nationals of a group of countries, with different levels of restriction for different countries. Here is how this type of proclamation generally works, who is typically exempt, and how to find ou
Effective June 9, 2025, a presidential proclamation placed new entry restrictions on nationals of a group of countries, with different levels of restriction for different countries. Here is how this type of proclamation generally works, who is typically exempt, and how to find out whether it affects you.
Last reviewed June 11, 2026
Key takeaway
Effective June 9, 2025, a proclamation placed entry restrictions, ranging from full suspensions to enhanced screening, on nationals of a list of countries. Common exemptions often include green card holders, dual nationals, existing valid visa holders, and people already granted asylum or refugee status, but the exact list of countries and exemptions can change. If you are a national of a potentially affected country, confirm the current rules from an official or reputable source before making any travel plans, and do not travel internationally with a pending immigration application without first checking whether it is safe to do so.
How This Type of Travel Proclamation Works
Presidential proclamations restricting entry generally divide affected countries into different tiers. Some countries are subject to a full suspension of entry for most categories of travelers. Other countries are subject to a partial restriction, often limited to certain visa categories such as immigrant visas, or subject to enhanced screening and vetting rather than an outright bar.
The proclamation that took effect on June 9, 2025, follows this general structure, applying different levels of restriction to different countries based on factors the administration cites such as identity-verification capabilities, information-sharing practices, and visa overstay rates. Because the list of affected countries and the specific restrictions for each can be revised, anyone potentially affected should confirm the current list directly rather than relying on a list printed in any single article, including this one.
Who Is Typically Exempt From These Proclamations
Proclamations of this type have historically included a consistent set of exemptions, although the exact exemptions for any specific proclamation should always be checked individually. Common categories of people who are often exempt include U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders), dual nationals traveling on a passport from a country that is not restricted, people who already hold a valid visa issued before the proclamation's effective date, certain diplomats and government officials traveling on official business, adoptees being brought to the U.S. by U.S. citizen parents, and individuals who have already been granted asylum, refugee status, or protection under the Convention Against Torture.
Some proclamations also include case-by-case waiver provisions for people who can demonstrate that denying entry would cause undue hardship, that their entry is in the national interest, and that their entry would not pose a threat to security or public safety. Whether a waiver applies, and how to request one, depends on the specific terms of the proclamation in effect.
Background: How This Connects to Past Travel Restrictions
Entry restrictions tied to specific countries are not new. A set of proclamations issued in 2017 led to litigation that reached the Supreme Court in the case Trump v. Hawaii, decided in 2018, in which the Court upheld the government's broad authority under immigration law to suspend entry of certain classes of foreign nationals when the President determines it would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.
That decision established that this type of proclamation, when properly issued under existing statutory authority, is generally within the President's power, which is part of why proclamations like the one effective June 9, 2025, tend to take effect relatively quickly compared to policies that face stronger constitutional challenges, such as the birthright citizenship executive order discussed elsewhere on this site.
If You Are a National of a Potentially Affected Country
If you are a citizen of a country that may be subject to this proclamation, the most important first step is to confirm, from a current source, exactly which restrictions apply to your country and your specific visa category. Restrictions can differ for immigrant visas (those leading to permanent residency) versus nonimmigrant visas (such as tourist, student, or work visas), and some proclamations distinguish between people applying for a new visa versus people who already hold a valid visa.
If you currently hold a valid U.S. visa or are a lawful permanent resident, gather and keep copies of your passport, visa, and any prior I-94 entry records. If you are in the process of applying for a visa or have an upcoming visa interview, check directly with the consulate or embassy handling your case, since processing for affected nationalities can change with little notice.
Practical Travel Guidance for Everyone, Even If You Are Not on the List
Even people who are confident their country is not affected should take a few precautions when traveling internationally during a period of frequent policy changes. Carry your passport, visa, green card (if applicable), and any other immigration documents with you, do not pack them in checked luggage. Before booking international travel, especially if you are not a U.S. citizen, consider checking your visa or status validity and any travel advisories.
If you have any pending immigration application, such as an adjustment of status, asylum case, or renewal, traveling internationally before that application is decided can carry serious risks regardless of whether a travel proclamation applies to you. Always confirm whether travel is safe for your specific pending application before you leave the country.
What To Do Next
- Identify your country (or countries, if you have dual nationality) and check the most current list of countries and restriction levels from a reliable, regularly updated source before assuming you are or are not affected.
- If you hold a valid U.S. visa or green card, gather copies of your passport, visa, green card, and recent I-94 travel records and keep them together.
- If you have an upcoming visa application or interview, contact the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate directly to confirm current processing for your nationality and visa category.
- If you have any pending immigration application inside the United States, do not book international travel until you have confirmed whether leaving the country could affect that application.
- If you believe a waiver might apply to your situation (for example, because of a close family member who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or an urgent medical or business need), gather documentation supporting that connection before you need it.
- If your situation is urgent, for example you have a flight booked soon and you are unsure whether you will be allowed to board or enter the U.S., request an urgent case review rather than waiting.
What to do next
- Save the full notice, receipt, envelope, and any deadline exactly as written.
- Write a short timeline with dates, agency names, court or facility names, and prior filings.
- If ICE, court, detention, an RFE, NOID, denial, or a close deadline is involved, start intake and mark the issue urgent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the proclamation that took effect on June 9, 2025 actually do?
It placed entry restrictions on nationals of a group of countries, with different levels of restriction for different countries, ranging from a full suspension of entry for some categories of travelers to enhanced screening or partial restrictions for others.
How do I find out if my country is on the restricted list?
Because the list of countries and the specific restrictions can be updated, you should check a current, official source directly rather than relying on any single article. If you are unsure how to interpret what you find, a case review can help confirm how it applies to your specific visa category and nationality.
I am a green card holder from a country on the list. Does this affect me?
Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are typically exempt from these types of proclamations, but you should confirm this for the specific proclamation in effect and keep your green card and passport with you when traveling.
I have dual citizenship, one of my passports is from a restricted country and the other is not. What happens?
Dual nationals are often able to travel on the passport of a country that is not restricted, but the rules for how this works can vary by proclamation and by which passport was used for any existing visa. Confirm your specific situation before booking travel.
I already have a valid U.S. visa issued before June 9, 2025. Is it still valid?
Proclamations of this type often include an exemption for individuals who already hold a valid visa issued before the effective date, but whether this applies to your specific visa category should be confirmed directly, since the rules can vary.
Does this affect people who already have asylum or refugee status in the United States?
Proclamations like this one have historically included exemptions for individuals already granted asylum, refugee status, or protection under the Convention Against Torture, but you should confirm this applies to your specific situation, especially if you are also applying for additional benefits.
I am a student on an F-1 visa from a country that may be affected. Can I still travel home and come back?
This depends heavily on the specific terms of the proclamation, your visa status, and whether you have a valid visa stamp. International travel by students from potentially affected countries should be planned carefully and confirmed in advance, ideally with input from your school's international student office and an immigration attorney.
What is a "waiver" under a travel proclamation, and how do I get one?
A waiver is a case-by-case exception that may be available if a person can show that denying entry would cause them undue hardship, that their entry would be in the national interest, and that they do not pose a security risk. The process for requesting a waiver, and whether one is available at all, depends on the specific proclamation and is generally handled through the consular process.
How is this different from the travel restrictions from 2017?
The general legal authority is similar and was upheld by the Supreme Court in Trump v. Hawaii in 2018. The specific countries, restriction levels, and exemptions in the proclamation effective June 9, 2025 are a separate determination and should be checked on their own terms.
I have a pending green card application (adjustment of status) inside the U.S. and I am not from a restricted country. Should I still be careful about travel?
Yes. Regardless of whether a travel proclamation applies to your nationality, leaving the United States while certain applications are pending can have serious consequences, including the application being considered abandoned in some situations. Always confirm whether travel is safe for your specific pending application before leaving the country.
My family member overseas has a visa interview scheduled. What should they do?
They should contact the U.S. embassy or consulate handling their case directly to confirm current processing for their nationality and visa category, since appointment availability and processing for potentially affected nationalities can change with little notice.
Can this proclamation be challenged in court?
Proclamations restricting entry based on nationality have been challenged in the past, including the litigation that led to Trump v. Hawaii, but the Supreme Court has recognized broad executive authority in this area. Any future legal challenges to the proclamation effective June 9, 2025 would be a separate matter from an individual's personal travel planning.
I am already inside the United States on a visa from a country that is now restricted. Will I be removed?
Entry restrictions of this type generally apply to people seeking to enter the United States, not to people who are already lawfully inside the country with valid status. However, if you leave the country, re-entry could be affected, so do not travel internationally without confirming your situation first.
Where can I find a reliable explanation of how these proclamations generally work?
The Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School (law.cornell.edu) has background on the Immigration and Nationality Act provisions that authorize these proclamations, including the statute at issue in Trump v. Hawaii, and Boundless (boundless.com) and Immigration Impact (immigrationimpact.com) publish updates as specific proclamations are issued or revised.
What is the single most important thing to do if I think I might be affected?
Confirm your specific situation, country, visa category, and current status, against a current, reliable source before making any travel plans, and get an individualized case review if you have any pending application or any uncertainty at all. Do not rely on assumptions or on information that may be out of date.
Sources & Further Reading
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