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 |
Yemeni citizens cannot currently be issued new B-1 or B-2 visitor visas. Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, suspends that issuance, with limited exceptions such as certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport. Visas issued before the proclamation remain valid. An ESTA is not available to Yemeni passport holders. Check travel.state.gov before planning a trip to Manhattan or paying for anything.
What the proclamation means
Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, suspends the issuance of new visitor visas, the B-1 and B-2 categories, to Yemeni nationals. In practice, a new visitor visa application cannot move forward while the suspension stands. The proclamation lists limited exceptions, among them certain dual nationals who travel on another country's passport. Anyone planning a trip should read the full text at travel.state.gov.
Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked. A Yemeni traveler who already holds a valid visitor visa may still use it, though the visa allows travel to a US port of entry and does not guarantee admission; a Customs and Border Protection officer decides at the border. Rules and exceptions can change, so check the State Department's announcement before booking.
Before you fly and on arrival
At check-in, airline staff check that a Yemeni passport holder has the right document for entry, normally a valid US visa. Without one, boarding is refused. Travelers relying on an exception should carry evidence supporting it and confirm the position with the US embassy or consulate before the flight. Confirm document requirements with the airline and at travel.state.gov, because they can change.
Flights land at John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia or Newark Liberty International. Arriving passengers go through Customs and Border Protection inspection, which includes a short interview, fingerprints and a check of the purpose of the visit. Carry the hotel confirmation, a return ticket and the visa or exception evidence in hand luggage rather than checked bags. Expect long queues at peak arrival times.
Staying in Manhattan
Hotels in Manhattan ask for a passport at check-in and usually take a card for incidentals. A printed confirmation showing every night of the stay helps at the front desk and at the border. Keep the address of the first night's accommodation written down, because it is asked for on arrival. Bookings made before a visa is in hand carry risk while the suspension stands.
From the airports, the trip into Manhattan is by public transport, taxi or ride app; check current routes and travel times on arrival, since services change. Travelers who stay past the date the officer sets, or who work without authorization, put future trips at risk. Keep the return plan firm, and leave the country on or before the date recorded at entry.
Work, study and longer stays
Tourist visas do not permit work or study. A Yemeni citizen who wants to work, study or stay for a longer period needs a different visa category, and each category has its own requirements and process. The proclamation suspends new visitor visas, so ask the embassy or consulate how it treats other categories, and check travel.state.gov for the current position.
Applications for those categories go through the US embassy or consulate responsible for the applicant's place of residence. Interview availability and processing change, so check the official site rather than relying on older accounts. Visas are issued only by US embassies and consulates. Keep plans refundable, and treat a trip to Manhattan as confirmed only once the visa is in the passport.
Step by step
- Read the State Department's announcement of Presidential Proclamation 10998 in full at travel.state.gov before making plans.
- Check whether a limited exception applies, for example dual nationality with travel on another country's passport.
- Look at any visa already in the passport and ask the embassy or consulate whether it remains valid.
- Contact the US embassy or consulate responsible for your area and ask how the proclamation affects your case.
- Keep flights and hotel bookings refundable until the visa position is clear and a visa is issued.
- Recheck the official announcement close to departure, since exceptions and procedures can change.
Documents to carry
- Passport, plus any US visa issued before the proclamation
- Printed hotel confirmation for every night of the Manhattan stay
- Return or onward ticket showing the plan to leave the United States
- Address and phone number of the first night's accommodation
- Evidence supporting any claimed exception, such as a second passport
Yemeni citizens: questions
Can Yemeni citizens get a new US visitor visa to visit Manhattan?
No, not while the suspension stands. Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, suspends issuance of new B-1 and B-2 visas to Yemeni nationals, with limited exceptions such as certain dual nationals traveling on another country's passport. Read the announcement at travel.state.gov before planning.
Can Yemeni citizens use an ESTA to enter the United States?
An ESTA is not available to Yemeni passport holders. The system is open only to travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, and Yemen is not one of them. A Yemeni citizen needs a US visa instead, so check visa requirements at travel.state.gov and the ESTA conditions at esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
What should a Yemeni citizen expect on arrival at a New York airport?
A Customs and Border Protection officer inspects the passport, visa and purpose of travel, then decides whether to admit the traveler and for how long. Carry the Manhattan hotel confirmation, a return ticket and any exception evidence. A valid visa allows travel to the port of entry but does not guarantee admission.
Do Yemeni citizens who already hold a US visa need to apply again?
Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked, so a valid visa can still be used even though new issuance is suspended. Confirm its condition with the US embassy or consulate before booking, and read the State Department's announcement. Admission remains a decision for the officer at the border.
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.