Under the administration of President Donald Trump, the United States government recently announced plans to impose restrictions on the visa application process for several specific countries. This policy has surprised many, especially those planning to travel to the U.S. for tourism, business, or education purposes.
So, which countries are affected by this policy, and what are the reasons behind these restrictions? Read the full explanation below!
About the U.S. Visa Restriction Policy for Certain Countries
The restriction policy includes the temporary suspension of several programs that previously allowed immigrants to reside temporarily in the U.S. This move is part of the current administration’s efforts to review and tighten immigration policies.
One of the measures taken was the immediate suspension of final decisions on certain visa applications by the Department of Homeland Security, pending further review by the Trump administration on the possible permanent cancellation of these programs.
This policy has raised concerns among international communities and human rights organizations, who question its impact on individuals seeking protection or opportunities in the United States.
List of Countries Affected by the Restrictions
It is known that 43 countries are impacted and may face greater obstacles in the U.S. visa application process. Which countries are affected by these new rules? Here is the list:
Full Ban (Red List)
Countries in this category face total visa restrictions, meaning their citizens cannot apply for U.S. visas for the time being. The 11 countries are:
- Afghanistan
- Somalia
- Bhutan
- Sudan
- Cuba
- Syria
- Iran
- Venezuela
- Libya
- Yemen
- North Korea
Partial Restrictions (Orange List)
Citizens from the following 10 countries face partial restrictions, which may include limitations on certain visa types or increased security screenings:
- Belarus
- South Sudan
- Eritrea
- Turkmenistan
- Haiti
- Sierra Leone
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Russia
Evaluation and Improvement (Yellow List)
Twenty-two other countries are under evaluation and given 60 days to improve their security and screening procedures. Failure to do so may result in further restrictions:
- Angola
- Equatorial Guinea
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Gambia
- Benin
- Liberia
- Burkina Faso
- Malawi
- Cambodia
- Mali
- Cameroon
- Mauritania
- Cape Verde
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Chad
- Saint Lucia
- Republic of the Congo
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Vanuatu
- Dominica
- Zimbabwe
What About Indonesia?
As of this article’s publication, Indonesia is not included among the 43 countries affected by the U.S. visa restrictions. This policy targets countries considered to have weaknesses in their security and traveler verification systems.
Although not affected, the visa application process for Indonesian citizens is still subject to strict scrutiny. The U.S. government applies more thorough evaluations, including travel history, visit purpose, and possible additional interviews.
Indonesia continues to meet the security standards required by the U.S. However, cooperation in security and immigration must be strengthened to maintain stable travel policies. The public is advised to keep monitoring the latest information from the U.S. Embassy.
