Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Emmanuel Victor Smith, has clarified that the United States’ decision to temporarily halt immigrant visa processing does not affect non-immigrant visas for Ghanaians.
The clarification is expected to allay concerns among Ghanaians planning short-term travel to the United States for business or tourism, as B1-B2 visas remain unaffected by the temporary suspension.
This follows an earlier announcement by the US government that it would place a temporary pause on immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, as part of a review of its visa screening procedures under the long-standing “public charge” rules.
According to the US State Department, the pause takes effect on January 21 and will remain in place indefinitely while consular officers reassess how visa applicants are evaluated to determine whether they are likely to become overly dependent on US public welfare systems.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Ambassador Smith explained that the directive applies strictly to immigrant visas.
“The US State Department confirms that B1-B2 visas will continue. Only immigrant visas are being paused,” he stated.
The affected countries span several regions, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, and include Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Thailand, and Yemen, among others.
US pauses Immigrant Visa processing for Nigeria, Ghana, and 73 other countries
