US travel ban takes effect: Is India impacted? Check full list here

People from seven countries will no longer be allowed to travel to the United States starting Thursday, January 1, 2026, as new restrictions signed by President Donald Trump formally come into effect. The move expands Washington’s travel ban and applies to both permanent immigrants and short-term visitors, with the administration citing national security concerns.

According to guidance issued by US Customs and Border Protection, nationals of Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Syria are now barred from entering the United States. The restrictions apply to both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, affecting those seeking permanent residence as well as temporary travel.

The White House said the measures are necessary to protect national security and public safety. The State Department has cited ongoing terrorist activity in Burkina Faso and Mali, concerns over Sierra Leone’s refusal to accept deported nationals, and Syria’s prolonged instability following years of civil conflict, among other reasons.

India is not included in either the initial or expanded list of countries affected by the travel ban. However, Indian nationals are facing tighter scrutiny under revised H-1B visa rules, which account for more than 70% of H-1B approvals issued by the US government.

The new restrictions build on existing travel bans already in place for nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Partial restrictions also continue to apply to Venezuela and Cuba.

The expanded travel ban comes amid broader changes to US immigration policy. Earlier this week, the Trump administration tightened rules for the H-1B visa programme, replacing the random lottery system with a weighted selection process that prioritises higher-paid applicants.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services said the previous system had been exploited by employers seeking to hire foreign workers at lower wages. The annual H-1B visa cap remains unchanged at 85,000.