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 |
Lao citizens cannot apply for a new B-1/B-2 visitor visa at present. Presidential Proclamation 10998 suspended issuance of these visas from January 1, 2026, with narrow exceptions such as certain dual nationals who travel on another country's passport. The Visa Waiver Program does not include Laos, so an ESTA is not an option. Visas issued before the proclamation remain valid. Check travel.state.gov before paying for any part of a trip.
What the suspension means
The suspension covers new visitor visas for tourism and short business trips. If you hold a B-1/B-2 visa issued before the proclamation, that visa was not revoked, and you can still travel on it while it remains valid. Without a visa or a confirmed exception, a trip to Manhattan cannot be arranged in the usual way at present.
Limited exceptions exist, for example certain dual nationals who travel on another country's passport. Whether one applies to you depends on your nationalities and documents, and only a US embassy or consulate can confirm it. Treat offers of a quick visa with caution and check everything against the State Department announcement on travel.state.gov before making plans.
Before you fly and on arrival
Air journeys from Laos to New York involve a connection in another country, and airline staff check your documents before boarding. Without a valid visa or written confirmation of an exception, boarding can be refused. Confirm your position with the embassy or consulate before booking, and keep copies of the confirmation, your passport and your return ticket together.
At John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport or Newark Liberty International Airport, officers of US Customs and Border Protection decide on admission at the port of entry. Expect questions about the purpose of the visit, where you will stay and when you plan to leave. Answer simply, keep hotel confirmation and return plans at hand, and allow time for queues.
Staying in Manhattan
Carry a printed hotel confirmation showing your name, the Manhattan address and your dates. Front desks ask for a passport at check-in, and a booking held in another person's name can cause delays. Have a return or onward ticket and a rough plan for your days in the city, with the address of your first night easy to reach.
From the airports, trains, buses and licensed taxis run into Manhattan, and signs in the terminals point to ground transport. Journey times vary with traffic, so leave room before a fixed appointment. In the city, the subway, walking and taxis cover most of what a visitor needs, and a paper map helps when a phone signal fails.
Longer stays, work and study
A visitor visa is only for tourism, family visits and short business meetings. Study, employment, journalism and stays of several months need a different visa category, each with its own application and interview. The suspension of visitor visas does not create a route to any of these categories. Check travel.state.gov for the category that matches your purpose before paying anyone for advice.
If your purpose is study or work, start with the school or employer that would sponsor you, then confirm the visa side with the US embassy or consulate. Do not travel on a visitor visa intending to work or enroll, since that can lead to refusal or removal. Requirements change, so verify current rules on the official site before committing to anything.
Step by step
- Read the State Department announcement of Presidential Proclamation 10998 on travel.state.gov, and note the date it came into force.
- Check whether an exception covers you, for example dual nationality with travel on another country's passport.
- Contact the US embassy or consulate that handles Lao applicants and ask how the suspension applies to your case.
- Ask about any visa you already hold, because visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked.
- Avoid booking flights, hotels or tours that cannot be refunded until your position is confirmed in writing.
- Check the official sites again shortly before departure, since entry procedures and requirements change.
Documents to carry
- Passport, plus a separate copy of the photo page kept in your bag
- Valid US visa, if it was issued before January 2026
- Printed hotel confirmation showing your name, the Manhattan address and dates
- Return or onward ticket showing plans to leave the United States
- Written confirmation from the embassy or consulate if an exception applies to you
Lao citizens: questions
Can Lao citizens get a new US visitor visa to see Manhattan?
Not in the usual way. Presidential Proclamation 10998 suspended the issuance of new B-1/B-2 visitor visas to Lao nationals from January 1, 2026, with limited exceptions. Visas issued before that date were not revoked. Read the State Department announcement on travel.state.gov and ask the US embassy or consulate how the rule applies to your own documents.
Is an ESTA available to Lao citizens traveling to New York?
No. The Visa Waiver Program, which uses ESTA, does not include Laos, so Lao passport holders cannot apply. A US visa is the usual route, and new visitor visas are currently suspended under the proclamation. Check esta.cbp.dhs.gov for the list of participating countries and travel.state.gov for visa information, since both sites are updated.
Do Lao citizens holding visas issued before 2026 need to do anything new?
No new application is required. The proclamation did not revoke visas that were already issued, so travel on a valid visa remains possible while it is valid. Carry the passport linked to the visa and a copy of the visa page. Admission is decided by Customs and Border Protection at the airport, so keep hotel confirmation and return plans ready.
Can Lao citizens study or work in Manhattan on a visitor visa?
No. A visitor visa covers tourism, family visits and short business meetings only. Study, employment and longer stays need a different visa category with its own application. The suspension of visitor visas does not create an alternative route. Check travel.state.gov for the category that matches your purpose and speak to the school or employer before paying 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.