What’s Happening?
On July 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of State updated its visa reciprocity schedule, reducing visa validity and entry allowances for more than 50 countries. The reciprocity schedule determines how long a visa is valid, how many times it can be used to enter the U.S., and what fee is charged based on how that country treats U.S. travelers.
For many nations, certain nonimmigrant visas in the B (visitor), F (student), H (temporary worker), J (exchange visitor), M (vocational student), and O (individuals with extraordinary ability) categories have been shortened to three months validity and single entry only. Visas issued before this date remain valid as printed. Full or partial travel bans also remain in effect for several of these countries, which may further limit visa issuance.
Which Countries Are Affected?
All B, F, H, J, M, and O visas are now 3 months and limited to one entry for:
Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The following countries have different visa validity and entry allowances, as followed:
| Country / Region | Visa Types | Validity | Entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambodia | H | 1 month | 1 |
| B, F, J, M | 3 months | 1 | |
| China | O | 3 months | 1 |
| Comoros | H, J, O | 3 months | 1 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | M | 1 month | 1 |
| B, F, H, J, O | 3 months | 1 | |
| Guinea-Bissau | H | 3 months | 1 |
| O | 3 months | Multiple | |
| Madagascar | B | 3 months | Multiple |
| F, H, J, M, O | 3 months | 1 | |
| Micronesia, Palau, Timor-Leste | B, F, M | 3 months | 2 |
| J, H, O | 3 months | 1 | |
| Nauru | B-2 | 3 months | 1 |
| Syria | B, F, J, M | 3 months | Multiple |
| H, O | 3 months | 1 | |
| Tuvalu | B-1 | 1 month | 1 |
| Other visas | 3 months | 1 |
This list does not include countries with full or partial travel bans. The travel ban supersedes reciprocity. Even if a country has a published reciprocity schedule, citizens from a country under a full ban cannot get a visa unless a waiver is granted.
Please check The Department of State official visa reciprocity page to confirm your specific country’s visa validity and entry allowances.