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 | Partial suspension: B-1/B-2 visitor visas included |
| 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 |
If you hold a Mauritanian passport, a new US visitor visa is currently only partly available to you. Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, partially suspends the issuance of B-1 and B-2 visas to Mauritanian nationals, with limited exceptions. Visas issued before the proclamation remain valid. ESTA does not apply to Mauritanian citizens. Check the State Department announcement before you pay for anything.
What the status means in practice
For a Mauritanian passport holder, the practical effect is that a new B-1 or B-2 visitor visa is not straightforward to obtain while the proclamation is in force. Applications are assessed case by case, and only limited exceptions apply. The clearest example is a dual national who travels on another country's passport. Visas issued before the proclamation took effect remain valid.
An ESTA is not an option for Mauritanian citizens, so the Visa Waiver Program route does not exist for this trip. Anyone who already holds a valid visa should check its dates before booking. Anyone without one should follow the State Department's announcement closely, because the rules can change. The embassy or consulate is the right place to ask about a specific case.
Before you fly and on arrival
Travelers from Mauritania usually reach New York through a connection in Europe, the Gulf or another African hub. Book nothing non-refundable until the visa position is clear. At the airport, US Customs and Border Protection officers decide admission at the port of entry. A visa lets you travel to the United States and apply for entry; it does not guarantee entry.
The airports serving Manhattan are John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International in New Jersey. All three have CBP inspection halls, and all three are large. Expect queues after long-haul arrivals, and keep your passport and papers where you can reach them quickly. Check the airport website for terminal details and current arrivals information before you fly.
Staying in Manhattan
Hotel confirmation, a return or onward ticket and a clear plan for the days in the city help at the border and at check-in. Manhattan addresses are precise: street, building number and cross streets. Keep a printed or downloaded copy of the booking. Many hotels ask for a passport and a payment card at check-in, and some ask for a deposit.
From the airports, train and bus links and official taxi ranks serve the city; check the current options and fares when you arrive. In Manhattan the subway reaches most visitor districts and runs all night on many lines, though weekend service changes are common. Plan the first evening simply, with a short walk near the hotel. Midtown, the Upper West Side and the Lower East Side suit different budgets and moods.
Longer stays, work and study
A visitor visa does not permit employment or a course of study in the United States. A longer stay, a work assignment or a university program needs a different visa category, and the requirements differ by category. The Department of State website explains each one and points to the correct application process. The same proclamation may affect other categories, so check the current text.
Students and workers usually need a sponsoring institution or employer before applying, and the process starts well ahead of the planned move. This site does not issue visas and gives no legal advice on individual cases. Questions about eligibility, documents and interviews belong with the embassy or consulate and with travel.state.gov. Keep every answer on an application consistent with the documents you submit.
Step by step
- Read the State Department announcement of Presidential Proclamation 10998 on travel.state.gov before making any plan.
- Check whether an exception applies, for example dual nationality and travel on another country's passport.
- Confirm whether a visa issued before January 1, 2026 is still valid, and note its dates.
- Contact the US embassy or consulate responsible for Mauritania and ask about your own case.
- Do not rely on ESTA; it is not available to Mauritanian citizens, so a visa application is the route.
- Plan nothing non-refundable, including flights and hotel deposits, until the visa position is clear.
Documents to carry
- Passport, in good condition, with any previous US visas inside
- Visa or record of visa status, plus the proclamation text if an exception applies
- Hotel confirmation showing the Manhattan address and the nights booked
- Return or onward ticket, and a short written plan for the stay
- Payment card, travel insurance details and the hotel phone number
Mauritanian citizens: questions
Can Mauritanian citizens still get a US visitor visa?
Only in limited circumstances. Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, partially suspends new B-1 and B-2 visas for Mauritanian nationals. Some exceptions exist, such as certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport. Check the State Department announcement on travel.state.gov and ask the embassy or consulate about your case.
Is a US visa issued to a Mauritanian citizen before 2026 still valid?
Yes. Visas issued before the proclamation took effect were not revoked, so a valid visa in a Mauritanian passport can still support a trip to New York. Check the expiry date and the entries allowed, and travel with the passport that holds the visa. Confirm the position on travel.state.gov before booking.
Can Mauritanian citizens use ESTA for a trip to Manhattan?
No. The Visa Waiver Program and ESTA are not open to Mauritanian citizens, so the electronic authorization route does not apply. A visa application is the only path, and new visitor visas are currently only partly available. Check esta.cbp.dhs.gov for the eligible countries and travel.state.gov for visa guidance.
What do Mauritanian citizens need at a New York airport?
Carry the passport with the visa, a printed hotel confirmation, a return or onward ticket and a short plan for the stay. US Customs and Border Protection officers at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia or Newark decide admission on the day. Answer questions directly and keep documents within reach. Ask the airline about other requirements.
Can Mauritanian citizens work or study in New York on a visitor visa?
No. A B-1 or B-2 visa covers business meetings and tourism, not employment or a course of study. Work and study have their own visa categories, each with a sponsor and a separate application. The State Department site explains the options. The proclamation may affect other categories, so check the announcement and ask the consulate.
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.