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 |
Haitian citizens cannot obtain new visitor visas for the United States at the moment. Presidential Proclamation 10998 suspended their issuance, with a few narrow exceptions, such as certain dual nationals who travel on another country's passport. Visitor visas issued before the proclamation remain valid. An ESTA is not an option for Haitian passport holders, so a visa is the only route. Check the State Department's announcement on travel.state.gov before paying for anything.
What the suspension means
Presidential Proclamation 10998 took effect on January 1, 2026 and suspends the issuance of new visitor visas to Haitian nationals. A consular officer cannot grant a B-1/B-2 visa to a Haitian applicant while it stands. The suspension concerns issuance only: visas granted before that date were not revoked and remain usable until their own expiry. Haitian citizens who already hold such a visa can still travel for tourism or business, provided the trip matches the visa terms.
Limited exceptions exist. Certain dual nationals may apply if they travel on the passport of another country, and the proclamation lists other narrow categories. Whether an exception covers a particular case is a question for the embassy or consulate, not for a travel guide. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization, known as ESTA, is not open to Haitian passport holders, so there is no shortcut around the visa requirement.
Before you fly and on arrival
Do not book flights or accommodation until the position is clear. Start with the State Department's announcement on travel.state.gov, then ask the US embassy or consulate that handles your district whether an exception could apply. If a valid visa is already in the passport, check its expiry and confirm that the trip still fits its terms. Anyone traveling without the right document will be refused boarding in Port-au-Prince.
Flights land at John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia or Newark Liberty International, and Customs and Border Protection officers inspect every arriving passenger. Expect questions about the purpose of the trip, where you will stay and when you intend to leave. Answer plainly and carry printed copies of your hotel booking and return ticket. Officers decide admission on the day, so a visa alone does not guarantee entry.
Staying in Manhattan
Hotels in Manhattan ask for a confirmation, a passport and a card for incidentals at check-in. Have the booking confirmation saved offline and printed, since a roaming phone may fail at the desk. If you are staying with friends or family, carry their address and a contact number. The same details are worth having when a border officer asks where you will sleep on the first nights of the trip.
Getting into the city from the airports is straightforward: trains and buses connect each terminal with Manhattan, and licensed taxis wait outside arrivals. A return ticket or a clear plan for leaving the United States matters at the border, so keep the booking to hand. Within Manhattan, the subway reaches most neighborhoods and walking covers the rest. Travel insurance that covers medical care is worth arranging before departure, since treatment can be costly.
Longer stays, work or study
Visitor visas cover tourism, family visits and short business meetings. Study, employment, and stays of several months require a different visa category, and each category has its own application and interview. The suspension in the proclamation concerns visitor visas, so anyone considering study or work should ask the embassy or consulate how the proclamation affects the category that applies. Requirements change, and only the official site states the current position.
Check travel.state.gov for the visa category that fits the plan, and follow the instructions for the embassy or consulate that serves your place of residence. Do not pay for tuition, a lease or a training course until a visa is issued and the status of the proclamation is clear. This site is a travel guide and does not issue visas, give legal advice or handle applications on anyone's behalf.
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 applies to you, for example dual nationality with travel on another country's passport, or a visa already in the passport.
- Contact the US embassy or consulate that serves your district and ask how the proclamation applies to your situation.
- Ask for the answer in writing and keep the reply with the travel documents for the trip.
- Book nothing that cannot be refunded until an embassy or consulate confirms the position for your case.
- Print the hotel confirmation and the return ticket before the flight, for inspection at the border.
Documents to carry
- Passport containing any visa issued before the proclamation took effect
- Printed hotel confirmation or the address and phone number of a host in Manhattan
- Return or onward ticket showing the plan for leaving the United States
- Printed copy of the State Department announcement and any consular correspondence
- Travel insurance that covers medical care and cancellation
Haitian citizens: questions
Can Haitian citizens get a new visitor visa for the United States?
Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, the issuance of new visitor visas to Haitian nationals is suspended, with limited exceptions such as certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport. Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked. Check travel.state.gov and the embassy or consulate before planning a trip to Manhattan.
Can Haitian citizens use an ESTA instead of a visa to visit New York?
No. The Visa Waiver Program and its ESTA system are not open to Haitian passport holders, so there is no electronic shortcut around the visa requirement. Only a valid visa, either issued before the proclamation or granted under an exception, allows a tourism or business trip to Manhattan. Check esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov for the official wording.
Can Haitian citizens with a visa issued before the proclamation still travel to Manhattan?
Yes. The proclamation suspended new issuance and did not revoke visas already granted. A valid visitor visa in a Haitian passport still permits a trip for tourism or business, subject to inspection by Customs and Border Protection at the airport. Carry the hotel booking and a return ticket, and expect questions about the purpose of the visit.
What should Haitian citizens carry when arriving at a New York airport?
Carry the passport with the visa inside, a printed hotel confirmation or a host's address, a return or onward ticket, and a printed copy of any consular correspondence about the case. Officers at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia or Newark Liberty may ask about the purpose of the trip and the money available. Answer plainly and keep documents to hand.
Do Haitian citizens need a different visa to study or work in the United States?
Yes. Visitor visas cover tourism, family visits and short business meetings, while study and employment have their own categories with separate applications and interviews. Ask the embassy or consulate how the proclamation affects the category that applies to the plan, and check travel.state.gov. Do not pay tuition or sign a lease until a visa is issued.
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.