Travel Ban Countries Ranked by Overstay Rate
Sort by any column • Click rows for full details
| Rank | Country ↕ | Tier ↕ | Worst Overstay ↕ | B1/B2 ↕ | F/M/J ↕ | Tags |
|---|
What's Actually Going On
The 2026 travel ban framework in 60 seconds
Two presidential proclamations now shape U.S. immigration restrictions: the June 4, 2025 Proclamation 10949 (effective June 9, 2025) and the December 16, 2025 expansion (effective January 1, 2026). Together, they affect nationals from 40 countries plus holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents.
- Full Suspension (Tier 1): All immigrants + all nonimmigrants suspended. Essentially "no entry" unless exception/waiver applies.
- Partial Suspension (Tier 2): Immigrants + B/F/M/J visas suspended. Other nonimmigrant categories (H-1B, L-1, etc.) may still be available with reduced validity.
- Immigrant-Only Suspension (Tier 3): Only immigrant visas suspended. Tourist and student visas remain available.
The stated justifications fall into several categories: high overstay rates, document/identity integrity concerns, terrorism environment, refusal to accept deportees, and citizenship-by-investment programs. But as the data shows, some countries with below-average overstay rates still face full bans.
5 Patterns the Headlines Missed
What the data actually reveals about this travel ban
🎯 The Counterintuitive Findings
Afghanistan (9.70% B1/B2), Burkina Faso (9.16%), Niger (13.41%), Syria (7.09%), and South Sudan (6.99%) all have tourist overstay rates below the ban-list average of 15.66%. The restrictions aren't purely overstay-driven.
Equatorial Guinea has a 70.18% F/M/J overstay rate—the highest on the list. Chad's 55.64%, Eritrea's 55.43%, and Burma's 42.17% dwarf their tourist numbers. The policy appears to weight student compliance heavily.
Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica have no overstay rates cited. Their inclusion is based on "citizenship-by-investment without residency" concerns—a totally different risk model from overstays.
The December proclamation downgraded Turkmenistan from partial to immigrant-only suspension, citing "significant progress on identity-management." Meanwhile, Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded to full suspension.
Iran, Libya, Mali, Somalia, Yemen, and Palestinian Authority documents are restricted based purely on terrorism/security concerns—no statistical overstay argument needed.
Understanding the Tags
Tier 1: Full Suspension Countries (19 + PA Docs)
All immigrant + nonimmigrant categories suspended
These countries face the most severe restrictions. Entry is suspended for virtually all visa categories, with limited exceptions for diplomats (A/G/NATO visas), certain approved exchange programs, and case-by-case waivers.
| Country ↕ | B1/B2 Overstay ↕ | F/M/J Overstay ↕ | vs Avg | Primary Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | 21.98% | 70.18% | ▲ Above | Overstay |
| 🇨🇩 Chad | 49.54% | 55.64% | ▲ Above | Overstay |
| 🇪🇷 Eritrea | 20.09% | 55.43% | ▲ Above | DocumentDeportee |
| 🇲🇲 Burma (Myanmar) | 27.07% | 42.17% | ▲ Above | OverstayDeportee |
| 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 16.48% | 35.83% | ▲ Above | OverstayDeporteeUpgraded |
| 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo | 29.63% | 35.14% | ▲ Above | Overstay |
| 🇭🇹 Haiti | 31.38% | 25.05% | ▲ Above | OverstayDocument |
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 9.70% | 29.30% | ▼ B1/B2 Below | TerrorismDocument |
| 🇸🇩 Sudan | 26.30% | 28.40% | ▲ Above | DocumentOverstay |
| 🇸🇸 South Sudan | 6.99% | 26.09% | ▼ B1/B2 Below | DeporteeOverstay |
| 🇱🇦 Laos | 28.34% | 11.41% | ▲ B1/B2 Above | OverstayDeporteeUpgraded |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 9.16% | 22.95% | ▼ B1/B2 Below | TerrorismDeportee |
| 🇳🇪 Niger | 13.41% | 16.46% | ▼ Below | Terrorism |
| 🇸🇾 Syria | 7.09% | 9.34% | ▼ Below | DocumentTerrorism |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | N/A | N/A | — | State SponsorTerrorismDeportee |
| 🇱🇾 Libya | N/A | N/A | — | DocumentTerrorism |
| 🇸🇴 Somalia | N/A | N/A | — | TerrorismDocumentDeportee |
| 🇾🇪 Yemen | N/A | N/A | — | DocumentTerrorism |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | N/A | N/A | — | Terrorism |
| 🇵🇸 Palestinian Authority Docs | N/A | N/A | — | TerrorismDocument |
Tier 2: Partial Suspension Countries (20)
Immigrants + B/F/M/J visas suspended; other NIVs may be available
Nationals from these countries face restrictions on immigrant visas plus tourist (B), student (F), vocational (M), and exchange (J) visas. Work visas like H-1B, L-1, and O-1 may still be available, though often with reduced validity periods.
| Country ↕ | B1/B2 Overstay ↕ | F/M/J Overstay ↕ | vs Avg | Primary Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇲 The Gambia | 12.70% | 38.79% | ▲ F/M/J Above | OverstayDeportee |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | 12.34% | 36.77% | ▲ F/M/J Above | Overstay |
| 🇹🇬 Togo | 19.03% | 35.05% | ▲ Above | Overstay |
| 🇲🇼 Malawi | 22.45% | 31.99% | ▲ Above | Overstay |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | 14.43% | 21.92% | ▼ Below | Overstay |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia | 10.73% | 21.02% | ▼ Below | Overstay |
| 🇨🇮 Cote d'Ivoire | 8.47% | 19.09% | ▼ Below | Overstay |
| 🇨🇺 Cuba | 7.69% | 18.75% | ▼ Below | State SponsorDeportee |
| 🇬🇦 Gabon | 13.72% | 17.77% | ▼ Below | Overstay |
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | 15.35% | 17.52% | ▼ Below | Overstay |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 7.89% | 15.15% | ▼ Below | Overstay |
| 🇹🇴 Tonga | 6.45% | 14.44% | ▼ Below | Overstay |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 8.30% | 13.97% | ▼ Below | Overstay |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | 4.30% | 13.07% | ▼ Below | Overstay |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 5.56% | 11.90% | ▼ Below | Terrorism |
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 9.83% | N/A | ▼ Below | DocumentDeportee |
| 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 9.49% | N/A | ▼ Below | Document |
| 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda | N/A | N/A | — | CBI |
| 🇩🇲 Dominica | N/A | N/A | — | CBI |
Tier 3: Immigrant-Only Suspension
The only country that got relief in December 2025
The December 2025 proclamation lifted nonimmigrant restrictions for Turkmenistan, citing "significant progress on identity-management and information-sharing." Only immigrant visa entry remains suspended. Tourist, student, and work visas are now available.
- B1/B2 Overstay: 15.35% (below ban average)
- F/M/J Overstay: 21.74% (below ban average)
- What Changed: Engaged productively with U.S. on document integrity
What This Means for Business
Practical implications for founders, employers, and global teams
Full Ban Countries: Work visas (H-1B, L-1, O-1) are generally unavailable. Consider:
- Remote contractor arrangements with clear independent contractor documentation
- Third-country subsidiary hiring (employee works from a non-banned country)
- Wait for waiver processing (case-by-case, unpredictable timelines)
Partial Ban Countries: Work visas may still be available, but with reduced validity. Plan for:
- More frequent visa renewals (1-year validity vs. typical 3-5 years)
- Longer processing times at consulates
- Administrative processing delays (security checks)
If your co-founder or key executive holds a passport from a banned country:
- Full Ban: Business travel to U.S. suspended. Board meetings, investor pitches, and customer visits require alternative arrangements (video, meeting in third countries)
- Partial Ban: B-1 business visitor visas suspended. Consider applying for L-1 (intracompany transferee) if the person has worked for a related entity abroad
- Planning: Build in 6-12 month lead times for visa processing; have backup decision-makers who can travel freely
Update your agreements to address travel ban risks:
- Force Majeure / Change in Law: Include "change in immigration law" as a triggering event
- Remote Work Clauses: Specify whether services can be performed from outside the U.S.
- Termination Rights: Consider whether visa denial/revocation is cause for termination
- Notice Requirements: Require employees to disclose nationality changes (e.g., CBI citizenship acquisition)
For teams with members from partial ban countries:
- Plan conferences in visa-friendly locations (most of Europe, Canada, Mexico for USMCA nationals)
- Factor in 3-6 month visa application timelines for U.S. conferences
- Budget for potential visa denial — non-refundable registration fees, flights
- Consider hybrid events with quality remote participation options
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