Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 30 DECEMBER 2025

New U.S. Travel Restrictions Include 20 Additional Countries And Take Effect Jan. 1, 2026

Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Explore more from Barnes & Thornburg LLP

On Jan. 1, 2026, recent changes to the list of U.S. full and partial travel restrictions will go into effect.

GlobalImmigration
Sarah J. Hawk
Sarah J. Hawk
Michael E. Durham
Michael E. Durham
Author LinkedIn connections

Highlights

  • On Jan. 1, 2026, recent changes to the list of U.S. full and partial travel restrictions will go into effect.
  • The updated list adds restrictions for nationals of 20 countries, as well as individuals holding travel documents issued through Palestinian Authority.
  • For the previously listed countries, many have moved from partial to full restrictions while nationals of Turkmenistan will be downgraded from full to partial entry limitations.

Citing continued security concerns, the United States Citing continued security concerns, the United States announced an expansion of entry restrictions on Dec. 16, 2025 that includes 20 additional countries, as well as holders of Palestinian-issued travel documents. The announcement also heightened restrictions for select countries previously subject to partial restrictions while lessening restrictions for one nation. All changes will go into effect on Jan 1, 2026.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

DHS Proposes $70,000 And $30,000 Fees For F-1 Optional Practical Training

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a controversial new rule requiring SEVP-certified schools to pay substantial fees—$70,000 for a student's first Optional Practical Training recommendation and $30,000 for each subsequent OPT application, including STEM extensions. With only a 30-day comment period and potential annual costs reaching up to $16.5 billion across nearly 2,500 affected institutions, the proposed regulation is expected to face significant legal challenges if finalized.
United StatesImmigration
Duane Morris LLP
Duane Morris LLP
Article

Department Of State Announces Compliance With Court Order Ending Diversity Visa Issuance Pause

Following a federal court order in Medani v. Trump, the U.S. Department of State has resumed issuing Diversity Immigrant Visas after a nine-month pause that began in December 2025. DV-2026 selectees now face a critical deadline of September 30, 2026, to complete their visa processing or permanently lose their opportunity for permanent residence through the diversity visa lottery program.
United StatesImmigration
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Article

IEEPA Tariff Refunds: Critical Developments, Phase III Delays, And Action Steps For Importers

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun processing IEEPA tariff refunds through its CAPE system, but Phase III covering finally liquidated entries faces delays and requires court orders. With the Department of Justice appealing the universal refund order and class certification pending, importers with finally liquidated entries may need to file individual lawsuits at the Court of International Trade to preserve their claims before statutory deadlines expire.
United StatesInternational Law
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article

California Passes AB-1883 Targeting AI Workplace Surveillance Of Employees’ Emotional State And Neural Data

On Aug. 30, AB-1883 received final legislative approval and now heads to California Governor Gavin Newsom for signature or veto. If enacted, AB-1883 would prohibit employers from using workplace surveillance tools that rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to recognize, infer, or predict an employee’s emotional state, or to collect “neural data.”
United StatesEmployment and HR
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article

Russia Sanctions And Tariffs: What Businesses Need To Know About The Graham Act

President Trump has signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, introducing sweeping new tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian energy and up to 500% on Russian-origin goods. The legislation also codifies existing executive order sanctions into statute, requiring congressional action to lift restrictions and creating mandatory secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions transacting with designated Russian banks. Companies face immediate compliance challenge
RussiaInternational Law
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article

Federal Court Melts USCIS Freeze On Adjudication Of Immigration Benefits For Nationals Of 39 Countries

A federal court has vacated USCIS policies that froze immigration benefit adjudications for nationals of 39 countries under an expanded travel ban, but the State Department's separate pause on immigrant visa issuance for 75 countries remains in effect. Employers must now distinguish between domestic USCIS benefits that can proceed and consular processing that remains suspended when planning for affected workers.
United StatesImmigration
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article

AI May Be The Missing Link To Your Company’s Trade Secret Theft: What In-House Counsel Should Know

As a business and intellectual property attorney, I spend much of my practice helping corporate clients protect and enforce their intellectual property through patents. But patents are not the only game in town. Trade secrets offer an equally valid, and in many cases, a more practical and affordable means of protecting valuable proprietary information, provided a company implements and maintains reasonable protective measures.
United StatesIntellectual Property
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP