The United States has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to Tanzanian nationals, effective January 1, 2026, under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
In a statement released on January 8, the US Embassy in Tanzania said the suspension affects several visa categories, including non-immigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as all immigrant visas, subject to limited exemptions.
“In line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, as of January 1, 2026, the United States is partially suspending visa issuance to Tanzanian nationals,” the embassy stated.
The embassy noted that exemptions apply to immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with passports from countries not covered by the suspension, and eligible applicants for Special Immigrant Visas, including certain US government employees.
Additional exemptions extend to participants in select major international sporting events and lawful permanent residents of the United States.
The embassy further clarified that visas issued before 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026, will remain valid and will not be revoked under the proclamation.
While Tanzanian nationals may continue to submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, applicants may ultimately be found ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States under the new measures.
The United States has expanded and modified travel and visa restrictions on nationals from multiple countries, citing persistent deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing systems that pose national security and public safety risks.
In a presidential proclamation, President Donald Trump said the measures build on earlier executive orders and proclamations upheld by the US Supreme Court and are intended to prevent terrorists, criminals, and other security threats from exploiting US immigration systems.
The administration said reviews by the State Department, Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and US intelligence agencies found that several countries continue to lack reliable civil documentation, criminal records, and identity-management systems, with corruption and document fraud further undermining vetting efforts.
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