Côte d'Ivoire at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | Partial: some visas suspended |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan processes both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and also handles immigrant visas for residents of Togo, Benin and Niger. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Côte d'Ivoire right now
- Under Proclamation 10998 (in effect since January 1, 2026), the U.S. has suspended immigrant visas and B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas for nationals of Côte d'Ivoire, with limited exceptions such as green-card holders, dual nationals traveling on another country's passport and visas issued before that date. Côte d'Ivoire was also on the January 2026 immigrant-visa pause, set aside by a court in August 2026 (appeal pending).
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Côte d'Ivoire
Marriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseFamily petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsImmigration waiversForgiveness for unlawful presence, past removal and other barsGreen card lottery (DV)Yearly random drawing for green cards from lower-immigration countriesAsylumProtection for people who fear persecution in their home countryExtend or change statusStay longer or switch to another nonimmigrant status
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Côte d'Ivoire visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Côte d'Ivoire is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Côte d'Ivoire get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Côte d'Ivoire nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Côte d'Ivoire and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Côte d'Ivoire enter the green card lottery?
Côte d'Ivoire was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from Côte d'Ivoire have their visa interview?
The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan processes both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and also handles immigrant visas for residents of Togo, Benin and Niger.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Côte d'Ivoire?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
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Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.