New U.S. Travel Ban Effective June 9: What Iranian and Other Affected Nationals Need to Know

Dear Clients,

As many of you are aware, the Trump administration’s new travel ban—effective June 9, 2025—imposes significant restrictions on nationals from certain countries, including a complete suspension of visa issuance for most applicants.

1. Who Is Fully Banned?

The following countries are currently subject to a full visa ban under the new Executive Order. This means that, with limited exceptions, no immigrant or non-immigrant visas will be issued to nationals of these countries:

- Iran (most heavily impacted)
- Syria
- Yemen
- Libya
- Somalia
- North Korea
- Venezuela (select government officials and their families only)

Iran is the most broadly affected, and this advisory is especially relevant for Iranian applicants.

2. Who Is Exempt From the Ban?

The following individuals are exempt from the travel ban and should absolutely attend their scheduled visa interviews, whether applying for immigrant or non-immigrant visas:

1. Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders) of the United States
2. Dual Nationals traveling on a passport from a non-banned country
3. Individuals with valid U.S. visas issued before June 9, 2025
4. Immediate family members of U.S. citizens, including spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21
5. Diplomats and international officials, including A, G, NATO, and C-2 visa holders
6. Athletes, coaches, and essential staff participating in major international sporting events
7. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, such as Afghans who worked with the U.S. government
8. Members of persecuted religious minorities in Iran, as designated by the U.S. government

If you fall into one of these categories, you are not subject to the ban, and your visa may still be issued.

3. Should I Attend My Visa Interview?

A. Immigrant Visa Applicants

If you are applying for a green card, you must attend your interview even if you expect to be refused under INA 212(f). Failure to appear may be treated as abandonment, which can permanently close your case and forfeit your priority date.

Even if the officer cannot issue your visa now, a formal refusal keeps your file open and gives you the chance to benefit from:
- Future waivers
- Temporary legal rulings or injunctions
- A future administration reversing or narrowing the ban (applies mainly to immigrant visa applicants)

B. Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants (e.g., B-1/B-2, F-1, J-1)

If you're applying for a temporary visa, you are not legally required to attend your interview and may reapply later without penalty. However, we still recommend attending if you can, especially if:
- You want a clear record that your denial was due to the travel ban—not anything negative about your background
- You want to preserve your place in line and benefit from potential short-term relief

If attending would cause undue hardship—such as major financial strain, international travel obstacles, or logistical issues—you may choose to delay and reapply later. Still, if you're able to attend, doing so could improve your long-term position.

4. Why It Still Matters

In both immigrant and non-immigrant categories, having a refused or pending case on record can allow you to act quickly if:
- A waiver process is introduced
- A lawsuit results in temporary relief
- A short-term exception or carve-out is announced

This is particularly important for immigrant visa applicants, where policy reversals may reinstate eligibility for those with an existing case on file.

Please contact our office if you're unsure whether the ban applies to you, need help determining if you are exempt, or would like assistance preparing for your appointment. We are tracking ongoing litigation and policy updates and will continue to advocate on your behalf.