Reviewed by Jane Katkova, Founder & Licensed CICC ConsultantOn 1 January 2026 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, US Presidential Proclamation 10998 took effect. Signed on 16 December 2025, it fully or partially suspends entry and visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries. Two of them operate Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes: Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.
Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia are not named in the proclamation.
Visa categories suspended for Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica
Both countries are subject to a partial suspension. According to the US Department of State's implementation notice and NAFSA's summary of the proclamation, the following are no longer issued to their nationals:
- all immigrant visas;
- B-1, B-2 and B-1/B-2 visitor visas;
- F and M student visas;
- J exchange visitor visas.
Other non-immigrant categories are outside the suspension. The stated basis for including both countries is that each "has historically had CBI without residency", which the proclamation says creates difficulties for screening and vetting.
Exceptions written into the proclamation
The suspension applies only to nationals who were outside the United States on the effective date and did not hold a valid visa on 1 January 2026. The main exceptions are:
- visas issued before the effective date remain valid and are not revoked by the proclamation;
- US lawful permanent residents are exempt;
- dual nationals travelling on a passport of a country that is not designated are exempt;
- holders of diplomatic and certain official visas are exempt.
What this means for applicants
For US and Canadian citizens the effect is limited. A US citizen's right to enter the United States does not depend on any second passport, and a Canadian citizen who also holds Antiguan or Dominican citizenship falls under the dual-national exception when travelling on the Canadian passport. The second citizenship keeps its value as a contingency and for travel elsewhere.
The position is different for US or Canadian residents who hold another passport and still need US visas. An applicant whose only other nationality is itself restricted, or who planned to use an Antiguan or Dominican passport to apply for a US visitor or student visa, should not expect that route to work while the proclamation is in force. Green card holders are exempt, but should carry the green card with the passport they were admitted on.
We advise clients for whom US visa access matters to weigh the five Caribbean programmes against this restriction before choosing, and to keep their original passport current. If you want the options assessed for your own nationality and status, book a consultation with our team.