WASHINGTON is making big changes to its immigration rules. Senegal is one of the countries directly affected by these changes.
Image / Seneweb
On December 16, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed a new proclamation that greatly tightens the rules for entering the United States.
He said this is to protect national security, fight terrorism, prevent document fraud, and deal with people who stay in the country past their visa time.
Senegal is officially among the countries facing partial restrictions.
This means Senegalese people who want to travel, study, work, or settle in the US will face more challenges.
The proclamation says that several countries, including Senegal, have issues with managing civil documents, making it hard to check criminal records, and having high rates of visa overstays.
Based on these concerns, the US has decided to limit visa grants even if there's no clear threat from an individual.
Starting on January 1, 2026:
- Visas will be severely limited.
This includes immigrant visas for permanent settlement and most non-immigrant visas such as tourism and business (B1/B2), study visas (F, M), and exchange visas (J).
- Other visa types can still be applied for, but with shorter validity, more careful checks, and a higher chance of rejection, even for those who were approved before.
Family reunification is also affected.
The US no longer considers family visas as an automatic exception. They believe this has been used for immigration fraud or abuse in the past. This could mean that families separated between Dakar and the US may have a harder time reuniting.
There are some exceptions, though they are rare and depend on the situation:
- Permanent residents already in the US.
- Dual nationals traveling with a passport from a country not on the restricted list.
- Diplomats.
- Athletes competing in major international events.
- Cases where the US believes it is in their national interest.
The clear message from Washington is that Senegal is now under closer watch regarding immigration.
For Senegalese people, traveling to or living in the US will be much more difficult starting in 2026. Students, families, and those looking to immigrate are most affected. This decision could also impact diplomatic relations, education, and economic ties between Senegal and the US.
For anyone planning a US visa, it's important to act before the end of 2025.
Check your documents and keep up with announcements from the US Embassy in Dakar.