United States visa for Ivorian citizens

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.

Ivorian citizens cannot use an ESTA and cannot apply for one. Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, the issuance of new visitor visas for B-1 and B-2 travel is suspended (the partial suspension covers B-1/B-2 visitor visas), with limited exceptions such as certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport. Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked. Check the State Department announcement before booking flights or hotels for Manhattan, and confirm your own situation with the embassy or consulate.

What the status means in practice

Presidential Proclamation 10998 has been in force since January 1, 2026. It partially suspends the issuance of new B-1 and B-2 visitor visas to Ivorian nationals, so a consular officer may not issue one unless a listed exception applies. The suspension is partial, not a blanket refusal. Read the State Department announcement in full before planning a Manhattan trip and paying for anything.

Limited exceptions exist. Certain dual nationals may travel on another country's passport, and the announcement sets out which categories qualify. Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked, so travelers who already hold a valid visitor visa are not affected by the suspension itself. An ESTA is not available to Ivorian citizens in any case. Confirm which exception, if any, fits your situation with the embassy or consulate.

Before you fly and on arrival

An Ivorian passport holder needs a valid US visa to board a flight to New York; the Visa Waiver Program and its ESTA do not apply. Book only once the visa position is clear, and keep copies of the visa page, the passport and any supporting letters in reach. Airlines check documents at check-in. Confirm current entry requirements with the embassy, the consulate or the airline before departure.

Flights from Côte d'Ivoire usually connect through another hub, so arrival at John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia or Newark Liberty ends a long journey. US Customs and Border Protection officers inspect the passport and visa, ask about the purpose and length of the visit, and may ask to see a hotel booking and a return ticket. Answer briefly, keep paperwork in a folder, and allow time for queues.

Staying in Manhattan

Carry a printed or offline copy of the hotel confirmation showing the name, address and dates of the stay. A reservation that can be cancelled protects you while the visa position is unresolved; nothing non-refundable should be paid before the status is clear. Manhattan hotels ask for a passport at check-in and often a card for incidentals. Keep the return booking accessible.

From Kennedy and Newark, trains and buses run into Manhattan, and taxis and ride services wait outside each terminal. LaGuardia sits closer to the city and is served by buses and taxis. Journeys use tunnels or bridges, so allow extra time at rush hour. Within Manhattan, the subway covers most of the island and is usually the fastest way between neighborhoods. Check current routes with the transit authority.

Longer stays, work or study

A visitor visa covers tourism, family visits and short business meetings, not employment or a full course of study. Longer stays, work, study and exchange programs need a different visa category, each with its own application, supporting documents and interview. The partial suspension concerns new visitor visas; other categories follow their own rules, which can also change. Check travel.state.gov for the category that matches the purpose of the trip.

Consulates decide visa cases. This guide does not issue visas or ESTAs and gives no legal advice on individual cases. Appointment availability and the wording of the proclamation can change, so treat every date and rule as a prompt to check the official sources. If a case is refused or delayed, ask the consulate what the next step is rather than booking around a hoped-for outcome.

Step by step

1. Read the State Department announcement of Presidential Proclamation 10998 in full before making any travel plan.
2. Check whether an exception fits your case: dual nationality with another country's passport, or a visitor visa issued before the proclamation.
3. Contact the US embassy or consulate serving Côte d'Ivoire to confirm your own position and the documents needed.
4. Pay nothing non-refundable, including flights and Manhattan hotels, until the visa status is clear.
5. Carry the passport, visa, hotel confirmation and return booking to the airport, with copies stored separately.

Documents to carry

• Passport valid for the trip, containing any earlier US visas.
• Valid US visitor visa, where one has been issued.
• Printed hotel confirmation with the Manhattan address and stay dates.
• Return or onward ticket showing the plan to leave the United States.
• Offline copy of the trip address and contact details.

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