Changes to U.S. Visa Reciprocity Schedules and What It Means for Penn’s International Community
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has recently revised the visa reciprocity schedules for over 50 countries, significantly reducing the validity period and number of entries allowed for many non-immigrant visas. These changes affect a broad range of visa categories and have important implications for international students, scholars, faculty, staff, and departments at the University of Pennsylvania.
What Has Changed?
- Many non-immigrant visas—including F (student), J (exchange visitor), B (business/tourism), H (temporary worker), O (extraordinary ability), and others—are now issued with a validity period of only 3 months in many cases.
- Most visas under this new policy are limited to single entry only, meaning that travelers will need to apply for a new visa each time they seek to re-enter the United States.
- Previously, many of these visas allowed multiple entries and longer validity periods, often up to 12 months or more.
Who Is Affected?
This change applies to foreign nationals from approximately 50 countries, including but not limited to:
- China, Nigeria, Iran, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Angola, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Cuba, Syria, Libya, Somalia, and many countries across Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
Please note:
- Countries such as Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, and others are also subject to full entry bans under the June 2025 Travel Ban.
- Other countries face partial bans affecting specific visa categories.
- Previously issued visas retain their original validity and are not impacted by these changes.
For a full list of countries and specific visa validity details, please refer to the U.S. Visa Reciprocity Table at the link below. Be sure to check the information for each country individually, as visa validity periods vary based on both the applicant’s country of citizenship and immigration status.
What Does This Mean for Penn’s International Community?
- Travel abroad requires extra caution. Because of the shortened visa validity and single-entry limitations, re-entering the U.S. after international travel will require obtaining a new visa.
- Visa appointment wait times and administrative processing delays may pose risks to timely re-entry.
- We strongly encourage students to consult ISSS before making travel plans.
- Similar travel restrictions apply, with shorter visa validity and single-entry limitations.
- Departments planning to host visiting scholars or faculty from affected countries should coordinate with ISSS early to discuss visa strategies and alternatives.
- Carefully review visa requirements and validity for visiting international collaborators.
- Consider alternative visa classifications or remote participation options where appropriate.
- Engage with ISSS for guidance and to minimize disruptions to academic and research programs.
- Visas issued prior to the policy changes remain valid under their original terms.
- Start visa application and renewal processes early to mitigate potential delays.
- Stay informed about ongoing changes, including travel bans and expanded country lists.
- ISSS is available to provide individual consultations and assist with immigration matters.
Resources and Further Information
- U.S. Department of State Visa Reciprocity Tables
- Presidential Proclamation 10949 (June 2025 Travel Ban)
- Klasko Immigration Law Partners Client Alert
- NAFSA: DOS Reduces Validity of New Visas for a Number of Countries
Contact Dr. Rudie Altamirano, ISSS Executive Director if you have questions at rudiea@upenn.edu