Travel Ban: NAFSA Resources

March 10, 2020

Topics

Travel Ban

Trump Administration Expands Travel Ban. In Proclamation 9983 of January 31, 2020, the Trump administration expanded its travel ban to place visa and entry restrictions on travelers from six additional countries: Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. The new ban (Travel Ban 4.0) becomes effective at 12:01 eastern standard time on February 21, 2020. Travel Ban 4.0 contains restrictions on immigrants but not on nonimmigrants, so Travel Ban 4.0 will not impact acquisition of nonimmigrant visas like F-1 student, J-1 exchange visitor, H-1B worker, etc., or of admission to the United States in those categories. Meanwhile, Travel Ban 3.0 continues in effect on certain citizens of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia.

The Travel Ban 3.0 and 4.0 restrictions are country-specific, and tailored to the situation of each individual country.

Travel Ban 4.0 countries effective February 21, 2020

Eritrea
Kyrgyzstan
Nigeria
Myanmar
Sudan
Tanzania

Travel Ban 3.0 Countries

Iran
Libya
North Korea
Syria
Venezuela
Yemen
Somalia

Brief background

President Trump ordered "Travel Ban 3.0" on September 24, 2017, in Proclamation 9645. Several parties immediately sued to block the ban, but the litigation ultimately did not stop its implementation. On June 26, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban, but it had already been in effect and enforced since December 4, 2017, when the Supreme Court stayed preliminary injunctions that had partially blocked it. On January 31, 2020, President Trump signed Proclamation 9983, Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats ("Travel Ban 4.0") which will add six additional countries to the "travel ban" list, effective February 21, 2020.

Read the Travel Ban 4.0 Proclamation (Proclamation 9983 of January 31, 2020)
Read the Travel Ban 3.0 Proclamation (Proclamation 9645 of September 24, 2017)

Countries and Conditions

Travel Bans 3.0 and 4.0 travel and entry ban restrictions apply to the following countries in specific ways. Also see the Department of State's page: Presidential Proclamation 9645 and Presidential Proclamation 9983.

Country	Conditions
Iran	Governed by Proclamation 9645, Travel Ban 3.0 Entry as an immigrant is suspended Entry of Iranian nationals "under valid student (F and M) and exchange visitor (J) visas is not suspended, although such individuals should be subject to enhanced screening and vetting requirements." Entry under other types of nonimmigrant visas is suspended
Libya	Governed by Proclamation 9645, Travel Ban 3.0 Entry as an immigrant is suspended Entry is suspended for nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas. Entry under other types of nonimmigrant visas is not suspended
North Korea	Governed by Proclamation 9645, Travel Ban 3.0 Entry as an immigrant is suspended Entry is suspended for all nonimmigrant visa categories
Somalia	Governed by Proclamation 9645, Travel Ban 3.0 Entry as an immigrant is suspended Visa adjudications for nationals of Somalia and decisions regarding their entry as nonimmigrants are subject to additional scrutiny to determine if applicants are connected to terrorist organizations or otherwise pose a threat to the national security or public safety of the United States
Syria	Governed by Proclamation 9645, Travel Ban 3.0 Entry as an immigrant is suspended Entry is suspended for all nonimmigrant visa categories
Venezuela	Governed by Proclamation 9645, Travel Ban 3.0 Entry is suspended for Venezuelan nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, but only for officials of government agencies of Venezuela involved in screening and vetting procedures - including the Ministry of the Popular Power for Interior, Justice and Peace; the Administrative Service of Identification, Migration and Immigration; the Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigation Service Corps; the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service; and the Ministry of the Popular Power for Foreign Relations - and their immediate family members. Nationals of Venezuela not subject to the above suspension should nevertheless "be subject to appropriate additional measures to ensure traveler information remains current."
Yemen	Governed by Proclamation 9645, Travel Ban 3.0 Entry as an immigrant is suspended Entry is suspended for nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas Entry under other types of nonimmigrant visas is not suspended
Eritrea	Governed by Proclamation of January 31, 2020, Travel Ban 4.0 The entry into the United States of nationals of Eritrea as immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the United States Government, is hereby suspended.
Kyrgyzstan	Governed by Proclamation of January 31, 2020, Travel Ban 4.0 The entry into the United States of nationals of Kyrgyzstan as immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the United States Government, is hereby suspended.
Myanmar (Burma)	Governed by Proclamation of January 31, 2020, Travel Ban 4.0 The entry into the United States of nationals of Burma as immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the United States Government, is hereby suspended.
Nigeria	Governed by Proclamation of January 31, 2020, Travel Ban 4.0 The entry into the United States of nationals of Nigeria as immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the United States Government, is hereby suspended.
Sudan	Governed by Proclamation of January 31, 2020, Travel Ban 4.0 The entry into the United States of nationals of Sudan as Diversity Immigrants, as described in section 203(c) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1153(c), is hereby suspended.
Tanzania	Governed by Proclamation of January 31, 2020, Travel Ban 4.0 The entry into the United States of nationals of Tanzania as Diversity Immigrants, as described in section 203(c) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1153(c), is hereby suspended.

NAFSA Statements

Travel Ban 4.0

January 31, 2020 - NAFSA Condemns Expanded Travel Ban

Travel Ban 3.0 before the U.S. Supreme Court

June 26, 2018 - America Must Rise Above Racism and Xenophobia (issued following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold the ban)
March 29, 2018 - NAFSA joined in an amicus brief arguing against the travel ban, filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of 33 higher education associations

Statements on September 25, 2017 Proclamation

September 25, 2017 - NAFSA Statement on September 24, 2017 Proclamation Travel Ban

Statements on Prior 90-Day Travel Ban

September 18, 2017 - Educational association amicus brief in support of the case against the travel ban now before the Supreme Court.
June 26, 2017 - NAFSA Statement on SCOTUS Travel Ban Decision
March 6, 2017 - Revised Executive Order Makes America Less Safe, Harms International Ties
February 10, 2017 - NAFSA Commends Court of Appeals Unanimous Decision on Executive Order
January 30, 2017 - Latest Executive Order Undermines America's Safety and Values

FAQ on Immigration Benefits

NAFSA has compiled a list of frequently asked questions about resources that can assist you in understanding and responding to recent and future changes to immigration benefits. View the frequently asked questions

From the Community

Tips and information from NAFSA's blog to assist advisers working to help students, scholars, faculty, and staff impacted by the executive orders.