Ghanaians can still apply for US tourist, business visas, ambassador says
In a post on Thursday, 15 January 2026, Mr Smith said B1/B2 visas remain available, stressing that the new directive is limited to immigrant visa processing.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Emmanuel Victor Smith, has sought to reassure prospective travellers that the US decision to pause some immigrant visa processing does not affect non-immigrant visas such as business and tourist applications.
In a post on Thursday, 15 January 2026, Mr Smith said B1/B2 visas remain available, stressing that the new directive is limited to immigrant visa processing.
The clarification follows concern after the US government announced a suspension of immigrant visa issuances for nationals of 75 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, as Washington reviews its screening approach under “public charge” considerations.
A notice published by the US State Department says the measure takes effect on 21 January 2026, pausing immigrant visa issuances for nationals of the listed countries during the review. It adds that the pause does not apply to tourist visas, which fall under non-immigrant categories.
US officials say the review is aimed at strengthening assessments of whether prospective immigrants are likely to become dependent on public benefits, a long-standing ground used in visa eligibility decisions.
The list of affected countries spans several regions, including parts of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean, with Ghana among those named by the State Department.
