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 |
Palestinian citizens cannot obtain a new US visitor visa at present. Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, issuance of B-1 and B-2 visas to Palestinian 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, so an existing valid visa can still be used. An ESTA is not available. Check the State Department's announcement before paying for anything.
What the suspension means in practice
Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, consular officers cannot issue new B-1 or B-2 visitor visas to Palestinian nationals. That covers ordinary tourist trips to Manhattan, family visits and short business travel. The suspension is not a ban on entering the United States: it stops new visas from being printed. Anyone holding a visa issued before January 1, 2026 keeps it, and it was not revoked by the proclamation.
An ESTA is not available to Palestinian citizens, so the Visa Waiver Program route is closed even for a short weekend in New York. Limited exceptions to the suspension exist, for example certain dual nationals who travel on another country's passport. Whether an exception fits a particular case is decided by a consular officer, not by this guide. Ask the nearest US embassy or consulate, and read the State Department's announcement first.
Before you fly and on arrival
Start with the State Department's announcement and confirm the current position before booking flights or a hotel in Manhattan. If you already hold a valid visa, check its details against your passport and travel plans, and carry both documents together. If the status is unclear, contact the US embassy or consulate that covers your place of residence. Nothing that cannot be refunded should be paid for while the question stays open.
Flights from abroad land at JFK, Newark Liberty or, on some routes, LaGuardia. Customs and Border Protection officers at those airports decide admission, and a visa alone does not guarantee entry. Expect questions about the purpose of the trip, where you will stay and when you plan to leave. Answer briefly and truthfully, and keep hotel details and return travel confirmations within reach in your hand luggage rather than in a checked bag.
Staying in Manhattan
A hotel confirmation in Manhattan is worth carrying in printed form, since it shows an address and a length of stay. Book accommodation that can be canceled while the visa question is open. Midtown and Lower Manhattan suit short first trips; areas farther from the center are quieter and still connected by subway. Rooms are in demand for most of the year, so reserve early once travel is confirmed.
Getting in from the airports is straightforward: buses and trains run into Manhattan, and taxis and ride services pick up at designated curbside areas. Rail links from JFK and Newark connect to the city's main stations, and a subway or commuter train ride usually finishes the trip. Keep a return or onward booking that matches what you told the officer. Nobody at a hotel desk can fix an immigration problem, so settle the visa question before departure.
Longer stays, work and study
A visitor visa is not the right document for a semester at a New York university, a paid job or a long stay. Study, temporary work and exchange programs have their own categories, and each has separate requirements. A consular officer decides which category fits, and the officer also decides whether any exception to the current suspension applies. Read the official guidance on travel.state.gov, which is updated when rules change.
Where an exception is claimed, expect to document it fully, for example with a second passport and evidence of that nationality. Never travel to the United States intending to change status after arrival; that plan rarely works and can end in removal. Timetables, forms and requirements change, so confirm every step on travel.state.gov before submitting anything. This site reports the rules and does not issue visas or give legal advice.
Step by step
- Read the State Department's announcement on Presidential Proclamation 10998 in full before any trip planning begins.
- Check whether a limited exception applies to you, such as dual nationality with travel on another country's passport.
- Confirm whether a visa issued before January 1, 2026 is still in your passport and still valid for the trip.
- Contact the US embassy or consulate covering your place of residence and ask about your own case.
- Book nothing that cannot be refunded, including flights and hotels, until the position is confirmed.
- Apply only through official channels, and treat any agent promising a guaranteed visitor visa with caution.
Documents to carry
- Passport, plus any second passport used to claim a nationality exception
- Printed visa page or confirmation of an existing valid visa
- Hotel confirmation showing a Manhattan address and length of stay
- Return or onward travel booking matching your stated plans
- Printed copy of the State Department announcement and any consular correspondence
Palestinian citizens: questions
Can Palestinian citizens get a US visitor visa for a Manhattan holiday?
Not at present. Presidential Proclamation 10998 suspends issuance of new B-1 and B-2 visas to Palestinian nationals, and it has been in force since January 1, 2026. Limited exceptions exist, for example certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport. A consular officer decides whether an exception applies. Check travel.state.gov before booking anything.
Do Palestinian citizens with a visa issued before the proclamation need a new one?
No. The proclamation did not revoke visas that had already been issued, so a valid visitor visa in a Palestinian passport can still be used for a trip to Manhattan. Check the expiry date on the visa against your plans, and carry the passport containing it. Customs and Border Protection officers still decide admission at the airport, so return plans should be in order.
Can Palestinian citizens use an ESTA instead of a visa to visit the United States?
No. An ESTA is only for travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, and Palestine is not part of that program. Palestinian citizens cannot use the waiver route, even for a short trip to Manhattan. A visitor visa is the usual document, and new visitor visas are suspended at present. Check esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov for the current rules.
What should Palestinian citizens bring to a US embassy or consulate appointment?
Bring the passport you would travel on, any second passport, and evidence of ties to where you live, such as employment or study. If you believe an exception applies, bring documents that prove it. Carry printed copies of any previous US visas. Consular staff decide what they need, and the official site lists the required forms and steps.
Is a US visa enough for Palestinian citizens to enter Manhattan?
No. A visa allows travel to a US port of entry, but Customs and Border Protection officers decide admission on the day. Expect questions about the purpose of the trip, your Manhattan accommodation and your return plans. Keep hotel confirmations and onward bookings in hand luggage. Entry can be refused even with a valid visa, so answer briefly and consistently.
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.