Overview
- Proclamation 10998 took effect on January 1, expanding U.S. entry restrictions and curbing use of travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.
- The State Department fully suspended immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance for citizens of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, subject to limited diplomatic and humanitarian exceptions.
- Another 19 nations face partial suspensions primarily affecting B‑1/B‑2 visitors and F, M and J student and exchange visas, with Cuba and Venezuela among those affected, while Turkmenistan faces a partial halt limited to immigrant visas.
- Officials say exceptions are considered case by case, dual nationals may apply with an unaffected passport, and visas issued before January 1 remain valid and are not revoked under the order.
- USCIS implemented inflation-based fee increases on January 1 and DHS will replace the H‑1B random lottery with a wage‑weighted selection on February 27, 2026, keeping the 85,000 annual cap and reinforcing biometric and background checks.