Supreme Court Ruling on Latest Version of Travel Ban

December 4, 2017

On Dec. 4, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the most recent iteration of President Trump’s “Presidential Proclamation” (aka “Travel Ban 3.0”). This specific travel ban was officially called a “Presidential Proclamation” on Sept. 24, 2017, but it underscored similar and specific travel restrictions that began in January 2017 and continued through September 2017, and were frequently referred to as Executive Orders or Executive Actions.

In the most recent and currently enforced travel regulation, citizens from the following countries have particular limitations until all further notice:

Chad: No B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visitor visas; no immigrant or diversity lottery visas.
Iran: No nonimmigrant visas except F and M student visas and J exchange visitor visas; no immigrant or diversity lottery visas.
Libya: No B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visitor visas; no immigrant or diversity lottery visas.
North Korea: No nonimmigrant, immigrant or diversity lottery visas.
Somalia: Nonimmigrant visa applicants subject to heightened scrutiny; no immigrant or diversity visas.
Syria: No nonimmigrant, immigrant or diversity lottery visas.
Venezuela : No B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visas for officials of designated Venezuelan government agencies. Other visa holders are subject to verification of traveler information. No restrictions on immigrant or diversity lottery visas.
Yemen: No B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visitor visas; no immigrant or diversity lottery visas.

It is particularly significant to note that travel remains restricted for Iranian citizens except for current holders, or applicants, of F, M and J visas (see above). Existing F and J visas for Iranian citizens remain valid and travel is not banned for holders of F and J visas.

As an institution, UMass Amherst continues to advise that those in our community who are citizens from the aforementioned countries please carefully consider the risks of any personal and professional international travel at this time. 

Because everyone’s situation at UMass is different, we recommend that if you have any upcoming international travel plans, and you are a current citizen of one of the aforementioned countries, please contact Ken Reade of the International Programs Office (IPO) at kjreade@ipo.umass.edu to discuss your options. IPO can provide you with additional information and a thorough review of your UMass-sponsored immigration status, as well as advising services for those affected.

If your upcoming plans involve domestic U.S. travel, and you are a citizen from one of the aforementioned countries, there are absolutely no restrictions or limitations on domestic U.S. travel, though it is always prudent to carry your passport and all other UMass-sponsored immigration documents, especially for air, train, bus and sea transportation.

Finally, as of the time of this writing, it is important to reiterate that there are currently no new changes that impact existing immigration benefits for citizens of any country. Examples of such U.S. immigration benefits include applications for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (J-1 AT), or applications to change to any other immigration status from within the US.

Further UMass contact information and related details can be referenced at the UMass IPO website: www.umass.edu/ipo/iss.