By Kelsey E. Logar, Esq., Senior Associate Attorney
Eight years ago, President Trump and the U.S. Department of State enacted the first travel ban under INA section 212(f), limiting the entry of nationals of numerous Muslim-majority nations. A version of this travel ban remained in effect until President Biden took office in 2021 and eliminated the ban on international travel for these specific nationalities.
As of June 9, 2025, President Trump’s Department of State Travel Ban is back with broader impact, preventing citizens of 19 countries from traveling to the United States, either temporarily or permanently, with some exceptions.
It’s important to note that this ban does not retroactively revoke existing visas or ban entry for individuals who already hold valid visas or green cards. It applies only to individuals who were outside the United States as of 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 9, 2025, and who did not possess a valid immigrant or nonimmigrant visa at that time.
Twelve countries now face total visa bans (with limited exceptions below), including:
- Afghanistan
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Chad
- the Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan, and
- Yemen
Seven additional countries face bans on immigrant visas and all tourist, student, and exchange visas (B-1/B-2, F, M, and J), including:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan, and
- Venezuela.
This ban does not apply to:
- Anyone with a current green card or current valid visa;
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, including spouses, children under 21, and parents;
- Refugees, asylees, and other individuals granted humanitarian protections;
- Dual nationals, diplomats, and children adopted abroad;
- Afghans seeking Special Immigrant Visas for their assistance to U.S. armed forces;
- Ethnic and religious minorities fleeing Iran;
- Immediate relatives of athletes participating in “major sporting events” like the World Cup and the Olympics; and
- Any individual whose entry is deemed in the “national interest.”
What’s Trump’s Rationale for the Ban?
President Trump and his administration have justified the need for such travel bans to address U.S. national security, public safety concerns, and to effectively “punish” countries with high rates of visa overstays. However, the bans do not necessarily connect the harms to the punishment – banning the issuance of immigrant visas to countries with high non-immigrant overstays draws an illogical conclusion. Such broad and sweeping authority to limit visas disguised as “vetting” will impact hundreds of thousands of people and prevent their temporary travel and permanent immigration to the United States based on animus and politics, despite overwhelming family ties, humanitarian concerns, and economic impact.
Utilization of the National Interest Exception
The Department of State’s “national interest exception” provides a case-by-case exception to the travel ban for individuals “who would serve a United States national interest” and are otherwise eligible for the visa. Such applicants must be prepared to explain to a consular officer why they meet the exception in the U.S. national interest, are otherwise qualified for the visa, and are not a threat to U.S. national security or public safety.
To qualify for a National Interest Exception, an applicant can articulate how their travel to the United States contributes to national security, public health, or economic recovery in the United States, and how their travel can otherwise not be achieved through alternative means or another individual. To support this request, an applicant should provide documentation to establish their qualifications for the specific role, and the U.S. employer’s urgent need for their services, such as the financial harm or missed opportunities the employer would suffer.
We understand the critical need of students, technical experts, researchers, medical professionals, and corporate executives to travel, work, and live in the United States. Given the evolving and challenging landscape for obtaining immigration benefits for citizens of impacted countries by the travel ban, an experienced attorney can provide you with the legal advocacy and strategic pathway needed to prove your qualifications and presence in the U.S. national interest for an application with the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
If you are a citizen of a country impacted by the Trump Travel Ban 2.0 and want to explore your options for a National Interest Exception, please contact Kelsey or call our office at (610) 975-4599 to schedule a consultation today.
Be sure to mention this article when reaching out for your consultation.
Reviewed by Yang-Kyoung (Lou) Nam, Esq., Associate Attorney