URGENT TRAVEL WARNING based on the Presidential Proclamation Issued on December 16, 2025

CLIENT ADVISORY: URGENT TRAVEL WARNING FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS AFFECTED BY NEW ENTRY RESTRICTION POLICY

Due to the new presidential Proclamation expanding travel-based entry restrictions—including new partial restrictions on Nigeria—any foreign national with a pending petition should avoid international travel unless and until they receive individualized legal clearance. A pending petition does not grant the right to re-enter the U.S., and the new security-based restrictions increase the likelihood of denial of admission, visa refusal, or loss of pending immigration benefits. Please avoid international travel if you fall into any of the categories listed below and/or contact Elkhalil Law, P.C. before making any travel plans.

This letter serves as an urgent advisory regarding the new Presidential Proclamation issued December 16, 2025, which expands immigration-related travel and entry restrictions under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. These restrictions take effect January 1, 2026 and may directly impact foreign nationals from 32 countries.

This policy affects clients with all types of pending immigration matters, including but not limited to:

• Family-based petitions (I-130)

• Employment-based petitions (I-140, PERM)

• VAWA petitions (I-360)

• Adjustment of Status applications (I-485)

• Advance Parole holders (I-131)

• Nonimmigrant visa holders (H-1B, H-4, L-1, L-2, F-1, J-1, B-1/B-2, O, P, R, etc.)

• Asylum seekers and refugee applicants

• TPS beneficiaries

• Humanitarian parole applicants and parole-in-place applicants

• Consular processing cases at U.S. embassies abroad

• Naturalization applicants planning international travel (N-400)

• Clients with prior immigration violations, security checks, or background-check delays

Because these restrictions can result in visa refusal, denial of boarding, denial of admission to the U.S., or abandonment of pending applications, we strongly urge all affected clients to avoid international travel until receiving individualized legal guidance.

COUNTRIES SUBJECT TO FULL ENTRY RESTRICTIONS

Nationals of the following countries face full entry bans, including suspension of visa issuance and denial of entry to the United States except under very narrow exceptions:

Existing Full Restrictions Continued (12 Countries)

1. Afghanistan

2. Belarus

3. Cuba

4. Eritrea

5. Iran

6. Kyrgyzstan

7. Libya

8. Myanmar (Burma)

9. Nigeria (now expanded to full restrictions for security-sensitive visa categories)

10. North Korea

11. Somalia

12. Sudan

New Countries Added to Full Restrictions (5 Countries)

1. Burkina Faso

2. Mali

3. Niger

4. South Sudan

5. Syria

Additional Documents Restricted

1. Individuals traveling on travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

COUNTRIES SUBJECT TO PARTIAL RESTRICTIONS

The following 15 countries are now subject to partial restrictions, which may include suspension of specific visa categories, enhanced screening, significant delays, and increased inadmissibility risk at ports of entry:

1. Angola

2. Central African Republic

3. Chad

4. Democratic Republic of the Congo

5. Djibouti

6. Ethiopia

7. Guinea

8. Guinea-Bissau

9. Laos

10. Mozambique

11. Senegal

12. Sierra Leone

13. Tanzania

14. Zambia

15. Zimbabwe

HOW THIS POLICY MAY AFFECT YOUR CASE

This Proclamation may negatively affect ALL of the following types of immigration cases:

1. Adjustment of Status (I-485)

Leaving the U.S. without valid Advance Parole will result in abandonment of the application.
Even with Advance Parole, re-entry at the border is now discretionary and may be denied for nationals of restricted countries.

2. Family-Based Petitions (I-130) and Consular Processing

Visa interviews abroad may be:

• Cancelled

• Delayed indefinitely

• Refused under the new security rules

• Subject to heightened documentation requirements

If the applicant is in the U.S. and departs, they may be unable to return.

3. Employment-Based Cases (PERM, I-140, H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc.)

Employees from listed countries may face:

• Denial or cancellation of visa appointments

• Increased administrative processing (221(g))

• Inability to obtain a new visa stamp abroad

• Higher scrutiny at ports of entry, even with valid visas or parole

4. VAWA (I-360) Applicants

A pending I-360 does not provide travel authorization or re-entry rights.
Travel may:

• Result in denial of re-entry

• Trigger unlawful presence bars

• Lead to abandonment of adjustment filings

• Delay or jeopardize the case

5. Asylum Applicants and TPS Holders

Travel on refugee travel documents or TPS advance parole may still be denied at the border under the new national-security restrictions.

6. Nonimmigrant Visa Holders (H, L, F, J, B, etc.)

Even valid visa holders may face:

• Refusal at consulates

• Airline refusal to board

• Questioning and potential denial at ports of entry

• Visa revocation based on new security criteria

Students and workers are particularly vulnerable since they must leave the U.S. for visa stamping.

7. Naturalization Applicants (N-400)

Applicants who travel abroad before taking the Oath may face:

• Entry denial

• Interruption of continuous residence

• Potential delays due to enhanced security checks

8. Humanitarian Parole and Parole-in-Place Applicants

Travel outside the U.S. may result in permanent loss of eligibility.

OUR RECOMMENDATION: Do NOT travel internationally if you are from any of the listed countries or have any pending immigration application unless our office has reviewed and cleared your case.

This applies especially if you:

• Have a pending I-485

• Have a pending I-130, I-140, I-360, I-589 (asylum), or parole request

• Need a visa stamp abroad

• Have any past overstays or immigration violations

• Have ever been placed in administrative processing or secondary inspection

• Hold a travel document or passport from a restricted country

Consequences may include:

• Denial of admission

• Cancellation of visas

• Permanent bars to re-entry

• Abandonment of pending cases

• Significant delays or case denials

CONTACT ELKHALIL LAW, P.C. BEFORE MAKING ANY TRAVEL DECISIONS

If you are unsure whether you may be affected, please contact our office immediately. We will evaluate:

• Your country of nationality

• Your immigration history

• Your current application(s) and filing status

• Your risk level under the new Proclamation

• Safer options for maintaining your immigration pathway without travel

For our clients, your immigration safety and legal protection are our highest priority. Please be aware that this is a new policy that was put in place via Presidential Proclamation just yesterday, so there is absolutely zero precedent or knowledge for how it will actually be applied by this administration. Additionally, policies may change in the future and/or be put into practice with less force than written. However, based upon the language linked here in the Proclamation issued yesterday, our office advises caution for all non LPR/US Citizen clients until we have seen how this administration enforces the policy in practice. If in doubt, please practice caution.