US Visa Restrictions on Antigua & Dominica CBI 2026: What Investors Must Know

What Proclamation 10998 Actually Says

US Presidential Proclamation 10998 was signed by President Trump on 16 December 2025 and took effect 1 January 2026. It is grounded in Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives the President broad authority to suspend or restrict entry of foreign nationals when their entry is deemed detrimental to US national interests.

The stated rationale was the use of citizenship-by-investment programmes to obtain second passports that can conceal true nationality, enable sanctions evasion, and bypass financial screening mechanisms. Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica were specifically targeted because their programmes historically required no meaningful physical presence from CBI applicants, creating a perceived due diligence gap in the eyes of US authorities.

The specific restrictions imposed on Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica nationals include:

• B1/B2 (Business/Visitor) visas: Reduced from 10-year, multiple-entry → 3-month, single-entry only
• F visas (Student): Suspended — no new issuances
• M visas (Vocational Student): Suspended — no new issuances
• J visas (Exchange Visitor): Suspended — no new issuances
• Immigrant visas: Suspended entirely for both nationalities
• Visa bond: USD $5,000–$15,000 refundable bond required at visa interview for new applicants

The official White House proclamation is available at whitehouse.gov. Visa bond programme details are confirmed by the US State Department visa bond notice.

This is not a visa-free access issue. Neither Antigua nor Dominica passports have ever had US visa-free access. The change affects the terms on which visas are issued once applied for. For investors who relied on 10-year multiple-entry B1/B2 visas for regular US business travel, the downgrade to 3-month single-entry is material.

If you hold an Antigua or Dominica CBI passport and are reassessing your strategy, book a free consultation with Mirabello Consultancy — our Caribbean specialists in Zurich and Dubai have guided 250+ citizenship cases across all five ECCIRA programmes with a 99% approval rate.

Which Countries Are Affected — and Which Are Not

The table below summarises the US visa position for each Caribbean CBI programme as of April 2026.

Antigua — Partial Relief and New Residency Requirement

Antigua & Barbuda secured a meaningful diplomatic concession through negotiations led by Ambassador Ronald Sanders: all valid US visas held by Antigua nationals as of 31 December 2025 are honoured and will not be revoked. For existing CBI holders who obtained a 10-year B1/B2 visa before the proclamation, their travel access to the United States remains intact until those visas expire.

This is significant. An Antigua CBI holder with a valid 10-year B1/B2 visa issued in, say, 2022, can continue travelling to the US on standard terms until 2032. The restriction applies only to new visa applications from 1 January 2026 onward.

In exchange for this partial accommodation, Antigua enacted a mandatory 30-day physical residency requirement for new CBI applicants — a diplomatic concession to demonstrate that the programme is not purely a document-of-convenience scheme. Parliament passed this measure rapidly in early 2026. A further 90-day residency proposal remains under discussion with US authorities but has not yet been legislated.

The practical situation for Antigua in April 2026: existing CBI holders with valid pre-2026 US visas retain full travel access. New Antigua CBI applicants face materially degraded US access until the June 2026 review produces a resolution.

Dominica — The 180-Day Review

Dominica has secured no partial relief as of April 2026. Full restrictions apply: B1/B2 visas are limited to 3-month single-entry, student and exchange visas are suspended, and the USD visa bond applies. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has publicly described the US restrictions as an error and has engaged in diplomatic dialogue with US counterparts, but no agreement has been reached.

The key date is the mandatory 180-day review embedded in Proclamation 10998 — falling approximately in late June 2026. This review requires the US government to formally assess whether the conditions that triggered the proclamation have been sufficiently addressed by the affected countries. Both Antigua and Dominica governments are presenting evidence of programme reforms (including residency requirements and enhanced due diligence through ECCIRA) ahead of this review.

Scenarios for late June 2026:

• Best case: US lifts or modifies restrictions on Dominica following demonstrated programme reforms — B1/B2 terms revert toward standard
• Middle case: Restrictions maintained but clarified; Dominica secures honoured-visa protection similar to Antigua’s agreement
• Worst case: Restrictions extended or broadened, providing no relief before 2027

Investors who need predictable US access cannot rely on a positive June outcome. Those for whom US access is secondary can still consider Dominica — it remains competitive for Schengen, UK, and broader global travel at its USD $200,000 price point.

Uncertain which programme fits your travel priorities? Speak with a Mirabello specialist today for a personalised assessment.

Grenada: The Strongest Caribbean CBI for US-Connected Investors

While Proclamation 10998 reshaped the Caribbean CBI landscape for Antigua and Dominica, it only reinforced what specialists already knew: Grenada holds a structural advantage unavailable to any other Caribbean CBI nation.

Grenada is the only Caribbean CBI programme whose citizens can apply for the US E-2 Treaty Investor visa. The bilateral Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Grenada and the United States (1989) qualifies Grenadian nationals to live and work in the United States through a substantial investment in a US business. Proclamation 10998 does not affect this treaty in any way.

How the E-2 works for Grenada CBI holders:

• Grenadian citizenship obtained via CBI immediately qualifies the holder for E-2 visa eligibility — no waiting period
• The investor and their family can reside legally in the United States while operating a US business — not just visit for 90 days
• E-2 visas are renewable indefinitely as long as the qualifying US business remains operational
• No annual visa cap or lottery system (unlike EB-5 immigrant visas which are subject to quotas)
• Minimum US investment is not specified in the treaty but US consulates expect a “substantial” investment, typically USD $100,000+ for small businesses

Grenada’s CBI programme starts at USD $235,000 via NDF contribution, processes in 5–7 months, and requires no physical residency. Its passport offers access to 140+ countries. For investors who need genuine US presence — for business expansion, children’s education, or lifestyle — Grenada is now unambiguously the best-placed Caribbean CBI option in 2026. See the full Grenada CBI programme guide.

Additionally, the FinCEN advisory on St. Kitts & Nevis was rescinded in February 2026, restoring strong banking access and reconfirming St. Kitts’ B1/B2 unaffected status as the strongest passport in the Caribbean by visa count (155+ countries).

What Existing Antigua/Dominica Passport Holders Should Do

For investors who already hold Antigua or Dominica CBI passports, the situation is manageable but requires careful planning:

1. Check your existing US visa expiry date immediately. If you hold a pre-2026 B1/B2 visa, it remains valid. Calculate when it expires and plan accordingly. If it expires before a diplomatic resolution is reached, you will face the new 3-month single-entry restriction upon renewal.
2. Do not panic. Existing valid US visas are not being revoked. Day-to-day US business travel continues normally for holders of pre-2026 visas. The restriction affects new applications only.
3. Assess whether a second CBI upgrade is warranted. If US access is critical to your business or family, Mirabello Consultancy can assess whether adding a Grenada CBI passport (E-2 eligible) alongside your existing Caribbean passport makes strategic sense. Some clients hold two Caribbean passports for different strategic purposes.
4. Monitor the June 2026 review. A positive diplomatic outcome could restore previous terms for Antigua or Dominica. Mirabello Consultancy will communicate any material developments to all active clients.
5. For Dominica holders: Consider whether your US travel needs over the next 12 months can be accommodated within 3-month single-entry windows, or whether your US visa is still valid from a pre-2026 issuance.

Choosing the Right Caribbean CBI in 2026

The US visa landscape has reset the Caribbean CBI decision matrix for investors who consider US access a priority. The full Caribbean CBI comparison is available on our hub, but the practical 2026 framework is as follows:

• US access is critical (business presence or long-term residence): Grenada E-2 is the only Caribbean pathway. Start here.
• US access is important but occasional: St. Kitts & Nevis (155+ visa-free, B1/B2 unaffected, FinCEN cleared) or St. Lucia (B1/B2 unaffected) are the strongest options. Note St. Lucia lost UK visa-free access in March 2026 separately.
• US access is not a priority (primarily European, Asian, or GCC travel): Dominica at USD $200,000 remains the most affordable option, with Antigua at USD $230,000 close behind and partial US relief in place for existing visa holders.

Mirabello Consultancy’s advisors map your specific travel needs, family profile, budget, and timeline to give you a clear programme recommendation — not a generic comparison chart. Book your free consultation here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are existing Antigua CBI passport holders’ US visas being cancelled?

No. Through the diplomatic agreement negotiated by Ambassador Ronald Sanders, all valid US visas held by Antigua & Barbuda nationals as of 31 December 2025 are honoured and remain in force. Only new B1/B2 visa applications from 1 January 2026 onward are subject to the 3-month, single-entry restriction.

Is Dominica CBI still worth applying for in 2026?

For investors whose primary second passport purpose is European (Schengen), Asian, or GCC travel — yes, Dominica remains competitive. It offers 136 visa-free countries including Schengen and the UK, a USD $200,000 entry point (the most affordable Caribbean CBI), and 4–6 month processing. For investors requiring reliable US access, Grenada is the better choice for 2026 until the June diplomatic review produces clarity.

Why were Grenada, St. Kitts, and St. Lucia not affected?

Proclamation 10998 targeted specifically Antigua and Dominica, not all Caribbean CBI nations. US officials distinguished these programmes on the basis of due diligence standards and physical presence requirements. Grenada’s bilateral E-2 treaty relationship with the US gives it a structurally different diplomatic footing. St. Kitts has a longer history of stricter due diligence. All five nations are subject to a separate broader immigrant visa pause, but this does not affect B1/B2 tourist access for Grenada, St. Kitts, or St. Lucia.

What is the visa bond requirement and how does it work?

New Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica nationals applying for B1/B2 visas must post a refundable bond of USD $5,000–$15,000 before visa issuance. The bond is returned upon demonstrated return from the US within the visa period. It represents a significant additional friction point for legitimate travellers and is one of the most visible practical impacts of Proclamation 10998.

Can I use a Grenada CBI passport for the US E-2 visa immediately after obtaining citizenship?

Yes. There is no waiting period between obtaining Grenadian citizenship via the CBI programme and becoming eligible to apply for the E-2 Treaty Investor visa at a US consulate. Your Grenada passport evidences your Grenadian nationality, which is all that is required to trigger E-2 treaty eligibility. Mirabello Consultancy coordinates the E-2 visa application process alongside your Grenada CBI programme for clients pursuing this pathway.

When will the US restrictions be reviewed?

Presidential Proclamation 10998 includes a mandatory 180-day review cycle. The first formal review falls approximately in late June 2026. Both Antigua and Dominica governments are engaging US authorities ahead of this deadline. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the June review in meetings with Caribbean counterparts. The outcome — whether restrictions are lifted, maintained, or extended — is not guaranteed.