# The US entry restrictions cover 39 countries — India is not one of them

> Proclamation 10998 has limited entry for nationals of 39 countries since 1 January 2026. Indian passport holders are outside it entirely.

- Published: 2026-08-20
- Author: VisaGyan (VisaGyan)
- Canonical: https://visagyan.in/us-travel-ban-39-countries-india-not-listed
- Official sources:
  - https://in.usembassy.gov/visas/
  - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources.html

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Every few weeks the phrase "US travel ban" returns to Indian group chats, usually attached to a screenshot with no list. Here is the list's shape: Presidential Proclamation 10998 restricts nationals of **39 countries**, it has been in force since 1 January 2026, and **India is not on it**.

## What the proclamation actually does

The US Mission India summarises it: "Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10998 on Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026, the United States is suspending or limiting entry and visa issuance to nationals of 39 countries as well as individuals applying using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority."

The mechanism matters for anyone helping a friend on another passport: covered applicants "may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission." Booking is not blocked; issuance is.

A separate line on the same page notes that the Department "has paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants." India has long been outside the diversity lottery, so this changes nothing for an Indian applicant either.

## What does affect Indian applicants

The ordinary things, which is the point worth repeating whenever a ban rumour circulates. Queue length in the four big cities, the $185 MRV fee at ₹98 to the dollar, purpose of travel at the counter, and the country-of-residence rule that ended third-country interview shopping — see [why booking Dubai or Bangkok backfires](/us-visa-interview-country-of-residence-indians). What actually leads to refusals is covered in [214(b) and 221(g)](/us-visa-refused-214b-221g-what-to-do), and the fee side in [US visa fees from India](/us-visa-fees-from-india).

If someone tells you India has been added to a restriction list, the test is simple: the Mission publishes these notices on its own visa page. If it is not there, it did not happen.

*VisaGyan is an independent journal, not affiliated with the US government. Policies change; check travel.state.gov and the Mission's page before you rely on this.*