Liberians Not Banned from U.S. Travel, Foreign Affairs Clarifies

Monrovia, Liberia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has addressed public concerns over recent announcements regarding U.S. visa processing, stressing that Liberians are not barred from traveling to the United States and that the measures do not target Liberia specifically.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry confirmed that the U.S. Government has announced an indefinite pause on the issuance of certain immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Liberia. This pause, effective January 21, 2026, is part of a broader review of U.S. visa screening under the “public charge” rule.

The Ministry was careful to clarify that the pause affects immigrant visas only those that lead to permanent residence, such as family-based, employment-based, and Diversity Visa (DV) programs. Non-immigrant visas, including tourist, business, student, and exchange visas, are unaffected, and all currently valid visas remain valid.

“Liberians are not banned from traveling to the U.S.,” the statement emphasized. “Immigrant visa interviews will continue as scheduled; only the issuance of visas is temporarily paused pending new U.S. guidelines.”

The Government of Liberia is actively engaging U.S. authorities through diplomatic channels to clarify the scope and duration of the pause while advocating for fair consideration of Liberian applicants.

The Ministry urged the public to rely only on official communications and dismiss misinformation circulating online. Citizens holding valid U.S. visas can continue to travel lawfully for tourism, education, business, and other temporary purposes.

This clarification comes amid widespread speculation and concern following reports of tightened U.S. immigration procedures affecting multiple countries.