Check the official site before you travel. imptmanhattan.com is a hotel and travel site; it does not issue visas or ESTAs and this is not legal advice. Rules change: confirm on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov.
| Status | Visitor visas suspended |
|---|---|
| Visa or authorization | Full suspension: all visa categories |
| Where to apply | Check the State Department notice first |
| Fees and processing | Set by the US government: check the official site |
| Arrival | Inspection by US Customs and Border Protection at the airport |
Congolese (Republic of the Congo) citizens cannot obtain a new US visitor visa while Presidential Proclamation 10998 remains in force. The proclamation, in effect since January 1, 2026, suspends issuance of B-1/B-2 visas to these nationals, with limited exceptions such as certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport. An ESTA is not available to them, and visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked.
What the suspension means
Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, the issuance of new B-1/B-2 visitor visas to Congolese (Republic of the Congo) nationals is fully suspended. Limited exceptions exist, for example certain dual nationals who travel on another country's passport. An ESTA is not available to these travelers, so the Visa Waiver Program route is closed too. Read the State Department's announcement before planning anything.
Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked. If you already hold a valid visitor visa, that document remains the basis for your trip, and the suspension does not by itself cancel travel already planned. If you hold no visa, a new application is unlikely to succeed while the proclamation stands. Officers decide each case individually, so check the State Department's announcement rather than relying on second-hand reports.
Before you fly and on arrival
Start with the announcement on travel.state.gov and read the exception criteria closely. If you already hold a valid visa, confirm that it covers the purpose of your trip. If you think an exception applies, for example dual nationality with travel on another country's passport, gather the documents that support it. Do not book flights or hotel nights until the position is clear.
Flights from abroad reach New York mainly through Kennedy or Newark Liberty, with fewer international arrivals at LaGuardia. At the port of entry, Customs and Border Protection officers decide whether to admit you. Expect questions about the purpose of your visit, your address in Manhattan and your plans to leave. Carry printed copies of your hotel booking, your return ticket and the passport or visa that supports your case.
Staying in Manhattan
Manhattan hotels ask for a document showing your name and the nights booked; a confirmation saved offline is enough. Keep it with your passport. Choose a neighborhood that matches the trip: Midtown for a first visit and easy transit, the Upper West Side for parks and museums, Lower Manhattan for ferries and early history. Trains and buses run from each airport into the city; check current routes and fares with the airport or the transit authority.
A visitor stay covers tourism, family visits, business meetings and medical treatment. It does not permit employment in New York. Carry a plan that shows you will leave: a return ticket, the dates of your stay and enough money for it. Officers may ask how the trip is paid for. Keep copies in a folder and on your phone, and check the official site for anything that changes.
Work, study and longer stays
Work, study, exchange programs and long family stays fall under other visa categories, each with its own application and supporting documents. A visitor visa does not turn into permission to work or to enroll full time. Congolese (Republic of the Congo) nationals who want to study or take a job in New York apply for the relevant category at a US embassy or consulate, where the proclamation may also affect eligibility.
Students and workers already in the United States follow different rules from people applying from abroad, and a trip outside the country can affect reentry. Ask the school's international office or the employer's immigration contact before booking travel. Read travel.state.gov for the category that fits your plan. This site gives travel guidance only and does not issue visas; an immigration attorney can advise on individual cases.
Step by step
- Read the State Department's announcement of Presidential Proclamation 10998 on travel.state.gov before making any plan.
- Check whether an exception fits your case, such as dual nationality with travel on another country's passport, or a visa already issued.
- Contact the US embassy or consulate responsible for Congo (Republic) and describe your situation before applying.
- Confirm that any visa you already hold was issued before the proclamation and remains valid for your trip.
- Plan nothing non-refundable, including flights and hotel nights, until the status of your application is clear.
Documents to carry
- Passport for the trip, plus any second passport that supports an exception claim
- Printed hotel confirmation in Manhattan showing your name and the nights booked
- Return or onward ticket, or a booked itinerary showing when you leave
- Copies of the State Department announcement page and any consular correspondence
- Evidence of how the trip is paid for, such as recent bank statements
Congolese (Republic of the Congo) citizens: questions
Can Congolese (Republic of the Congo) citizens get a US visitor visa for Manhattan now?
Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, new B-1/B-2 visitor visas for Congolese (Republic of the Congo) nationals are suspended, with limited exceptions. A consular officer decides each case. Check the State Department's announcement on travel.state.gov before applying or paying for a trip.
Can Congolese (Republic of the Congo) citizens use ESTA instead of a visa for New York?
No. ESTA serves travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, and Congo (Republic) is not one of them. Congolese (Republic of the Congo) citizens cannot use the Visa Waiver Program, so the visitor visa route, now affected by the suspension, is the relevant one. Check esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov.
I already hold a US visa as a Congolese (Republic of the Congo) citizen. Can I still travel to Manhattan?
Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked, so a valid visitor visa remains the document you show at the airport. Admission is decided by Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry, not by the visa alone. Carry your hotel confirmation and return plans, and check the official site before flying.
Does an exception to the US visa suspension apply to Congolese (Republic of the Congo) citizens with a second passport?
Limited exceptions exist, for example for certain dual nationals who travel on another country's passport. Whether one fits your case depends on the documents you hold. Read the State Department's announcement, then ask the US embassy or consulate responsible for Congo (Republic) before booking anything.
Where will you stay in Manhattan?
Midtown for a first visit, SoHo or the West Village for character, the Upper West Side for the park. Live prices for your dates open in the IMPT app.
Photo credits: Pexels.