On June 4, 2025, Proclamation 10949 became effective, restricting entry of foreign nationals from countries with inadequate screening and vetting capabilities. The proclamation fully restricts entry from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. This presidential action directly affects how you adjudicate visas for nationals of these countries and shapes waiver strategy.
What changed
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence, identified countries whose vetting and screening information is deficient, warranting suspension of admission under INA § 212(f). President Trump determined entry restrictions are necessary to protect U.S. national security and public safety interests, with restrictions designed to be country-specific to encourage cooperation.
Each country faces documented barriers:
- Afghanistan: The Taliban controls it and lacks a competent central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.
- Burma: had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 27.07 percent and an F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 42.17 percent, and has historically not cooperated with the U.S. to accept back removable nationals.
- Iran: is a state sponsor of terrorism, regularly fails to cooperate in identifying security risks, and has historically failed to accept back removable nationals.
- Somalia: lacks a competent central authority and appropriate screening measures, and stands apart in the degree its government lacks command and control of its territory.
The proclamation includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests.
Why it matters
You must treat nationals of these 12 countries as presumptively excludable unless they qualify for an exception. Nationals of some countries pose significant risks of visa overstay, which increases burdens on immigration and law enforcement.
For practitioners:
- Visa processing: Consular posts will almost certainly deny or refer TN, L-1, F-1, B-1/B-2, and immigrant visa applications from nationals of listed countries absent a waiver.
- Waiver requests: You must affirmatively request a waiver through proper DOS channels; no waiver is automatic.
- Family-based cases: Even immediate relatives and family preference beneficiaries may face additional security vetting or outright denial.
- Timing: Applications for nationals of listed countries will face longer processing or may be rejected at the outset.
Way forward
- Confirm nationality: Check the applicant’s country of birth, citizenship, and passport origin against the 12-country list.
- Assess waiver eligibility: Review DOS guidance (likely appearing in updated visa-application instructions) on which categories qualify for national-interest waivers.
- File waiver requests proactively: Do not assume a denial will be reconsidered; submit a detailed waiver request with evidence of national interest or hardship upfront.
- Track proclamation updates: The White House fact sheet signals that further countries may be added; monitor executive-branch announcements for expansions to the restricted list.
Disclaimer
This article summarizes the public text of Proclamation 10949 and is not legal advice. Proclamations are binding executive actions, but waiver availability, implementation timelines, and country-specific guidance evolve. Consult a licensed immigration attorney for advice on your specific case. Visit the State Department website for the most current visa-application procedures and waiver policies. Immigration policy can change without notice; always verify against the primary source linked above.