The United States has announced significant visa restrictions targeting multiple nations, including Caribbean counterparts Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, citing national security concerns related to their Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs. The policy shift, declared by the White House on December 16, 2025, will take effect January 1, 2026.
This development represents an expansion of existing travel limitations, now encompassing twenty additional countries across Africa and the Caribbean. The restrictions specifically apply to B1/B2 business/tourist visas, F and M student visas, and J exchange visitor visas for applicants from these nations.
According to the presidential proclamation, the measures aim to address perceived vulnerabilities in immigration vetting processes. The administration identified several systemic issues including inadequate document verification, unreliable criminal records, and insufficient birth registration systems in affected jurisdictions. Particular concern was directed toward CBI programs that allegedly enable identity concealment and bypass standard vetting protocols through non-residency requirements.
Caribbean leaders have responded with both surprise and consternation. Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne expressed ‘deep disappointment,’ asserting that recent legislative reforms have already implemented a mandatory 30-day physical residency requirement for citizenship applicants—directly contradicting the US administration’s stated concerns.
Similarly, Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit highlighted his nation’s comprehensive CBI reforms enacted in October 2025, which established enhanced due diligence procedures, stricter financial transparency mandates, and an independent regulatory authority. Both governments have initiated diplomatic channels, dispatching envoys to Washington for urgent consultations regarding the implementation scope of these restrictions.
The policy announcement has generated uncertainty among current visa holders and applicants from affected nations, with specific implications for educational exchanges, business travel, and diplomatic relations between the US and Eastern Caribbean states.