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 |
Sudanese citizens cannot obtain a new US visitor visa at present. Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, suspends the issuance of B-1 and B-2 visas to Sudanese nationals, apart from limited exceptions such as certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport. Visas granted earlier were not revoked. An ESTA is not available. Check travel.state.gov first.
What the suspension means in practice
Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, consular officers cannot issue new B-1 or B-2 visas to Sudanese nationals. B-1 covers business visits and B-2 covers tourism, family visits and medical treatment. The suspension concerns new visas, not visas already granted. A valid visa sitting in your passport from an earlier application was not revoked and can still be presented at a US port of entry.
Limited exceptions exist, and certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport may fall within them. The State Department announcement on travel.state.gov lists the categories it recognizes. Nothing about an exception can be assumed in advance, since each application is assessed on its facts. The Visa Waiver Program does not cover Sudan, so an ESTA is not an option for Sudanese citizens.
Before you fly and on arrival
Do not book flights, hotels or event tickets until the visa position is clear. If you hold a visa issued before the proclamation, check its details against your passport and confirm with the embassy or consulate that handles Sudan that it remains usable. Airlines inspect travel documents before boarding and follow official guidance, so a doubtful document can stop a trip at the departure gate.
Arrivals from abroad reach New York through John F. Kennedy International Airport or Newark Liberty International Airport, and some international routes use LaGuardia. At the airport, US Customs and Border Protection officers decide whether to admit you and for how long. Answer questions directly, carry printed hotel and return details, and expect fingerprints and a photograph. Admission is decided at the border, not by the visa alone.
Staying in Manhattan
A hotel confirmation supports the purpose of a tourist visit. Book accommodation once the visa position is clear, and keep the confirmation in printed form as well as on your phone. Reservations that can be canceled without penalty protect the trip if an application stalls. A short itinerary helps at the border: where you sleep, what you plan to see, and when you fly home.
From the airports, the subway, commuter trains, buses and official airport taxis all reach Manhattan; check the current fare for each option before setting out. Downtown puts you close to the historic streets and the harbor, while Midtown is convenient for museums and the theater district. Keep a return ticket and any onward plans, since a clear departure date answers the question an officer most often asks on a short visit.
Longer stays, work or study
Visitor visas suit short trips: tourism, family occasions and business meetings. Work, study, exchange programs and longer stays need different visa categories, each with its own requirements and application process. The proclamation freezes new visitor visas for Sudanese nationals. It does not change the rules governing the other categories. Check the official site for the category that matches the purpose of your trip.
Those applications are assessed case by case by consular officers, and a decision rests on the requirements of the category rather than on a travel plan. Timetables and procedures change, so confirm current instructions on travel.state.gov and with the embassy or consulate that handles Sudan before paying for courses, contracts or housing. This site offers travel information only and does not issue visas.
Step by step
- Read the State Department announcement on Presidential Proclamation 10998 at travel.state.gov before making any plan.
- Check whether an exception applies, such as dual nationality with travel on another country's passport, or a visa issued before January 1, 2026.
- Contact the US embassy or consulate that handles Sudan and describe your circumstances.
- Ask which documents support any exception claimed, and keep copies of everything sent or received.
- Plan nothing non-refundable, including flights, hotel deposits or event tickets, until the position is clear.
- Confirm again shortly before departure, since guidance and procedures can change between booking and travel.
Documents to carry
- Passport valid for the trip, with any earlier US visa still inside it
- Printed hotel confirmation and a return or onward ticket
- A short printed itinerary listing where you stay and what you plan to see
- Evidence for any exception claimed, such as a second valid passport
- Contact details for the embassy or consulate handling your case
Sudanese citizens: questions
Can Sudanese citizens get a US visitor visa for a trip to Manhattan now?
No. New B-1 and B-2 visas are suspended for Sudanese nationals under Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, apart from limited exceptions. A visa granted before that date was not revoked. Check travel.state.gov and confirm your case with the embassy or consulate that handles Sudan.
Do Sudanese citizens need an ESTA to enter the United States?
No. The Visa Waiver Program covers a fixed list of countries, and Sudan is not among them, so an ESTA is not available to Sudanese citizens. A visa is required instead, and new visitor visas are currently suspended. The ESTA site at esta.cbp.dhs.gov explains who may use the system, and travel.state.gov covers visa categories.
A Sudanese citizen holds a US visa issued before 2026. Can it still be used for a New York trip?
Visas issued before the proclamation took effect were not revoked, so a valid visa in a valid passport can still be presented at a New York airport. The officer at the port of entry decides on admission. Carry the passport that matches the visa, plus hotel and return details, and check with the embassy or consulate first.
Are there exceptions for Sudanese citizens who also hold another country's passport?
Limited exceptions exist, and certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport fall within them. The State Department announcement on travel.state.gov sets out the categories. Eligibility is assessed case by case, so ask the embassy or consulate that handles Sudan before making plans. A second passport does not by itself guarantee a visa for the United States.
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.