On June 4, 2025, the White House issued a new presidential proclamation restricting certain types of visas for Turkmenistan, such as B1/B2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visas. The partial ban took effect on June 9 at 12:01 a.m. EDT. Citing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2023 data, the proclamation listed Turkmenistan among countries with “unacceptable” visa overstay rates.
At first glance, the figure seemed high: in Fiscal Year 2023, DHS flagged a visa overstay rate of over 15 percent by Turkmen nationals on B-1/B-2 visitor visas. The report also recorded a 21.74 percent overstay rate for F, M, and J visa categories, which cover students, vocational trainees, and exchange visitors.
Yet the base numbers were very small: only 925 Turkmen travelers in total were expected to depart the United States that year by air or sea. Only 142 overstayed on visitor visas; just 45 on student and exchange visas. In raw terms, Turkmenistan accounted for one of the smallest totals of overstayers worldwide.
Turkmenistan has long defined itself as a neutral state, a status recognized by the United Nations in 1995. That principle of neutrality is central to its foreign policy and a point of national identity. Abroad, its citizens are often described as law-abiding, apolitical, and conscious about maintaining the country’s reputation. Students and visitors from Turkmenistan usually arrive in the United States with scholarships, sponsorships, or family ties that anchor them to clear obligations. They are not a high-risk population by any measure; rather they represent some of the country’s most ambitious people.
For that reason, the travel ban has fallen most heavily on university students. Many who returned to Turkmenistan during the summer break expecting to resume classes at their U.S. campuses in the fall have instead found themselves locked out. Those who remained in the United States now hesitate to travel at all. Visiting family has become a risk, since leaving will mean being denied reentry. The result is that students are either stuck abroad, unable to return to their campuses, or stuck in the United States, unable to see their families without jeopardizing their education.
The Diplomat spoke to several Turkmen citizens pursuing education in the United States, many of whom were reluctant to speak openly about their circumstances for fear of retaliation. The sources who did agree to have their comments printed have been granted anonymity. All names are pseudonyms and The Diplomat is withholding details related to their courses of study and institutions.
Leyla, a university student unable to return to continue their education in the United States, described how the restrictions upended not only their studies but also jobs, internships, and leadership opportunities they had worked hard to secure. “I was supposed to return and continue my studies. I had responsibilities in a student organization, a part-time job on campus, and even an internship with a scholarship award waiting for me,” they said. “All of that disappeared overnight.”
The personal cost has also been heavy.
“At first I told myself it was temporary, but then I realized my life was in the United States – my friends, my studies, even my clothes and books. I had gone home with just one suitcase for the summer. Everything else is still there. That realization was very painful. I cried for weeks,” Leyla recalled.
Facing uncertainty, Leyla has now chosen to transfer elsewhere. “It was not the plan. I wanted a U.S. diploma, and I still hope to return. But I had to find another path.”
“This policy has completely disrupted my educational trajectory,” Ýildyz told The Diplomat. After deferring the start of their Ph.D. studies for health reasons last year, they were excited to get started at last.
“As someone deeply committed to academic research and with a long-term goal of contributing meaningfully to my field, this setback feels profoundly unfair,” Ýildyz said. “I turned down other prestigious Ph.D. programs and industry opportunities to pursue a Ph.D. in the U.S. as my dream, only to have my enrollment ultimately canceled because of the ban. Now I am left with nothing – neither the academic path nor the professional opportunities I had worked so hard to secure.”
Dildara, a university student midway through their degree at a U.S. institution, had returned to Turkmenistan to renew their passport at the end of the spring semester. They explained to The Diplomat that Turkmen students typically have a three-month entry window on their visas, “meaning that each time we leave the U.S. to go home – or anywhere else – we must apply for a new visa.”
“Unfortunately, the ban came into effect before I was able to complete my appointment to be issued this new visa,” Dildara said.
Similarly, Gulya had returned to Turkmenistan after finishing secondary school in the United States this spring – with a scholarship to attend a top U.S. university in the fall.
“Getting into a U.S. university as an international student is an incredibly tough process that takes almost half a year of just application preparation and writing,” Gulya told The Diplomat. “I worked for years in school to earn this chance.”
Gulya and the other Turkmen students interviewed by The Diplomat diligently followed the rules, applying for new visas every time they left the United States to see their families back home.
“I have always tried to give my best, both academically and beyond, while making sure I follow all the rules of my visa,” Gulya said. “That is why it feels so discouraging to now be kept from starting my studies, even though I have done everything right on my visas so far.”
Others who remain in the United States face a different kind of burden. Mähri, another university student, described missing important family events back home.
“When the order came out, it was scary. I had planned to visit my family for the summer, but now I know if I leave, I won’t be able to return,” Mähri said.
The uncertainty has also affected Mähri’s well-being.
“At the beginning of the summer, I felt depressed and even went to see a counselor because I felt very alone,” Mähri explained. Regular calls with friends and family bring some comfort, but it is not the same. “We talk almost every day, but it doesn’t replace being there in person.”
The students caught up in this policy are not overstayers or criminals. They are bright people who followed the rules, enrolled in accredited programs, and built their lives around the promise that education would be their bridge to the future. Their experiences show the broader impact of the restrictions.
“To me, the policy feels arbitrary and unjust,” Ýildyz said. “Instead of protecting or serving a constructive purpose, it punishes students who only wish to study, learn, and contribute positively to society. It has taken away years of preparation, effort, and hope from many talented young people who could otherwise be making meaningful contributions both in the U.S. and globally.”
Turkmen students represent only a small fraction of international enrollment in the United States, yet their presence has long been one of the few steady links between the two countries.
That link was also evident at the United States-Turkmenistan Annual Bilateral Consultations, held in Washington on August 20, 2025. The 11th round of these talks brought together Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary John Mark Pommersheim, who emphasized commitments to advancing security cooperation, expanding economic opportunities, and strengthening engagement through the C5+1 framework. The United States underscored its support for Turkmenistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, while both sides expressed interest in building stronger ties across multiple sectors.
The official statements regarding the consultations did not address the travel ban, but for students and families directly affected, the dialogue itself offered hope.
The numbers show that Turkmenistan is not a significant source of visa overstays. The students most affected are not threats to U.S. security; they are talented individuals whose education strengthens the very ties these consultations are meant to deepen.
“I hope that decision-makers will recognize the significant impact this situation has on students like me, those who are compliant, highly motivated, and eager to contribute to both U.S. society and their home communities,” Dildara told The Diplomat.
“I truly hope this decision will be reversed. I am eager to contribute academically and personally to the country that has already given me such incredible opportunities,” Gulya added.
Regular reviews of the travel ban policy are required under the presidential proclamation, with the next deadline on September 2, and many remain cautiously optimistic that those updates could bring relief.
“Policies can and do change,” Ýildyz said. “I sincerely hope that those reviewing this one will see the immense harm it is causing to students who have done nothing wrong. A change would not only restore fairness but also reaffirm the U.S. as a place that values education, talent, and opportunity.”
Until then, students’ lives remain in limbo.