In early July 2025, the U.S. Department of State began making changes to visas for international students and scholars from the 54 countries listed below. The changes apply to the visas commonly used at MIT. The specific categories affected vary by country as detailed in DOS’ visa reciprocity tables.
Entry visas issued after July 8, 2025 are subject to the new reciprocity limitations.
How might this impact you?
- For most of these countries, the changes limit the validity of visa stamps for admission to the U.S. to one entry, within three months of the issuance of the visa.
- Each time students and scholars from these countries travel outside of the U.S., they will need to be ‘vetted’ again before they obtain a new visa.
What do you need to do?
- Impacted students and scholars should consult an advisor in the International Students Office/International Scholar Office well in advance of travel. As always, you should also inform your faculty advisor/faculty host/Principal Investigator of your plans before you travel.
*Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burma/Myanmar, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China (O visas only), Comoros, Cote D’Ivoire, Congo, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Micronesia, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Palau, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria , Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Note: Students and scholars subject to the June 9,2025 travel restrictions (“travel ban”), remain ineligible for U.S. entry visas.
If you have any questions, please contact your advisor at the MIT International Students Office (ISO) or MIT International Scholars Office (ISchO).