The United States has partially suspended visa issuance to Tanzanian citizens and nationals of 38 other countries, citing national security concerns, though limited exceptions apply for students, athletes and certain immigrant categories.

The Department of State said visa applicants may continue to submit applications, but eligibility for visa issuance or entry into the United States may be denied following security assessments.

“In line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, as of January 1, 2026, the United States is partially suspending visa issuance to Tanzanian nationals for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas, with limited exceptions,” the Department said.

Among those exempted from the restrictions are Tanzanians applying for immigrant visas as ethnic or religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, as well as dual nationals who apply using a passport from a country not subject to the suspension.

Additional exemptions cover Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for US government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D), participants in certain major international sporting events, and lawful permanent residents (LPRs).

The Department clarified that “no visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 am EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation.” Applicants holding valid visas as of the effective date are therefore not affected.

Presidential Proclamation 10998 also extends and expands earlier restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10949, imposing full or partial visa suspensions on nationals from 39 countries, as well as on individuals travelling with documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.

Countries facing a full suspension of visa issuance include Afghanistan, Burma, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The full suspension applies to all nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.

Partial visa suspensions apply to Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe for both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, subject to the same exceptions. Turkmenistan is subject to a partial suspension covering all immigrant visas, with similar exemptions.

The proclamation also removes several exceptions that had previously been allowed under Presidential Proclamation 10949. These include immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5), adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4), and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas.

On national interest waivers, the Department said, “The Secretary of State or his designee, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may find that travel by an individual would serve the U.S. national interest on a case-by-case basis.”

It added that “the Secretary of Homeland Security or her designee, in coordination with the Secretary of State, may also find that travel by an individual would serve the U.S. national interest on a case-by-case basis,” while the Attorney General “may find the travel of an individual would advance a critical U.S. national interest involving the Department of Justice.”

The Department reiterated that Presidential Proclamation 10998 applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not hold a valid visa. Nationals with valid visas as of January 1, 2026, remain unaffected, and while applications and interviews may proceed, eligibility for visa issuance or admission may still be denied.