Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and other National Security and Public Safety Threats
Last Updated: June 7, 2025
In line with
the Presidential Proclamation on “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to
Protect the United States from Foreign
Terrorists
and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” which takes effect on
June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the United States is
fully or partially suspending entry for and visa issuance to nationals of 19
countries. We are protecting our nation and its citizens by using
rigorous, security-focused screening and vetting procedures to ensure that
individuals approved for entry do not endanger national security or public
safety.
Effective June 9, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT, in line with the Presidential Proclamation on “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” the Department of State is fully suspending visa issuance to nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen for all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories with limited exceptions for:
Certain
diplomatic and official visas
Certain
immediate relative immigrant visas (spouses, children, and parents of U.S.
citizens)
Adoptions by U.S. citizens
Immigrant
visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
Dual
nationals applying with a passport nationality not subject to a suspension
Special
Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees
Afghan SIVs
Participants
in certain major sporting events
Lawful
Permanent Residents (LPRs)
Also effective June 9, 2025, at 12:01 am EDT, in line with the Presidential Proclamation on “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” the Department of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas with limited exceptions for:
Certain
immediate relative immigrant visas (spouses, children, and parents of U.S.
citizens)
Adoptions by
U.S. citizens
Immigrant
visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
Dual
nationals applying with a passport nationality not subject to a suspension
Special
Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees
Participants
in certain major sporting events
Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)
In his discretion, the Secretary of State or his designee, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may find that travel by an individual would serve the U.S. national interest on a case-by-case basis. The Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security, may find the travel of an individual would advance a critical U.S. national interest involving the Department of Justice.
This Presidential Proclamation only applies to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date AND do not hold a valid visa on the effective date (June 9, 2025). Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to the Proclamation. No visas issued before June 9, 2025, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation.
Visa
applicants who are subject to this Presidential Proclamation may still submit
visa applications and schedule interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa
issuance or admission to the United States.
The full text of the Proclamation is available here:
J-1 visas are not entirely suspended as of September 2025; however, a significant change requires in-person interviews for most J-1 visa applicants, and visa issuance is partially or fully suspended for applicants from specific countries under existing national security and public safety measures. Additionally, a proposed rule would eliminate "duration of status" for J-1 visitors, imposing fixed admission periods, and some program changes for J-1 students may be restricted.
J-1 Visa Interview Policy Update
Mandatory In-Person Interviews: Effective September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of State now requires an in-person interview for most non-immigrant visa applicants, including F-1 and J-1 students and scholars.
Reduced Waivers: The expanded visa interview waiver program that was in place since the COVID-19 pandemic has been significantly reduced.
Older and Younger Applicants: Age-based exemptions that previously allowed applicants under 14 or over 79 to skip interviews have been eliminated.
Country-Specific Suspensions
Partial Suspension: Visa issuance for certain nonimmigrant categories, including F-1, J-1, and B-1/B-2, is partially suspended for nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Full
Suspension: Immigrant and nonimmigrant entry is fully suspended for nationals
from Afghanistan, Burma/Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Proposed Regulations
Fixed Admission Periods: A proposed rule, with public comment ending September 29, 2025, aims to replace the "duration of status" (D/S) system with fixed admission periods for F-1 and J-1 students, with a maximum of four years.
Stricter Oversight: The proposed rule includes stricter oversight, possibly requiring biometrics, and may ban program changes for J-1 graduate students and shorten the post-completion grace period.
For the most current information, you should refer to the U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security official websites.
https://www.google.com/search?q=are+us+j1+visas+suspended+a+of+september+2025
Comments
This Review has
resulted in proposals to greatly limit “work visas” in favor of hiring US
Citizen Teens and New Grads.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody Ga Tea Party Leader
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