Here are the details.
As President Donald Trump moves forward with a major expansion of U.S. travel restrictions, Americans are beginning to feel unexpected consequences overseas.
The Trump administration recently widened its travel ban to 39 countries and suspended visa processing for roughly 75 nations overall. While supporters argue the move is necessary to protect national security and restore order to the immigration system, several foreign governments are now responding with restrictions of their own—this time targeting U.S. travelers.
African nations halt visas for Americans
A group of African countries, including Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, have announced they are no longer issuing visas to American citizens.
Officials in those nations describe the move as “reciprocal,” arguing that their citizens now face stricter scrutiny and barriers when attempting to enter the United States. Rather than targeting Americans personally, they say they are simply applying the same standards imposed by U.S. authorities.
Earlier this month, Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the policy shift in a public statement, explaining that U.S. citizens would now be subject to the same entry conditions Malian travelers face when entering America.
Pakistan quietly tightens travel rules
In South Asia, Pakistan has also made it harder for Americans to visit—though without much public explanation.
Pakistan was recently included on the U.S. State Department’s list of countries affected by a pause in immigrant visa processing beginning January 21. Not long after, travelers noticed that Pakistan had quietly suspended its popular “visa prior to arrival” program.
According to Visas News, the program had allowed citizens from 125 countries, including the United States, to receive fast online authorization without paying a fee. As recently as August 2024, Americans could apply for a free 90-day tourist or business visa simply by submitting passport details through a government portal.
That option has now disappeared.
Travelers using Pakistan’s official “Pak ID” mobile app report being redirected to traditional visa categories that require payment and longer processing times. Under the new system, Americans must pay $35 for a single-entry visa valid for up to three months and wait up to seven business days for approval.
Even more concerning for U.S. travelers, citizens of the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are now charged a higher $60 visa fee, with no official explanation offered by Pakistani authorities.
A sharp reversal from earlier promises
The shift marks a sharp change from just months ago. In August 2024, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly praised Pakistan’s relaxed visa rules, saying the policy would help attract tourism, foreign investment, and international business.
For now, however, Americans planning overseas travel are discovering that global politics increasingly shape where—and how easily—they can go. As the Trump administration continues reshaping U.S. immigration policy, the ripple effects abroad are becoming harder to ignore.
