US Government Names 1 Country Whose Citizens are Not Eligible for American Visa

The US Department of State published an official advisory clarifying which nationality is barred from applying for an American entry visaThe ruling affects dual nationals living abroad who may believe they can enter the United States on a foreign passport with a visaFederal law extends the restriction to children and electronic travel authorisations, creating implications for families planning US tripsPAY ATTENTION: Mark YEN.com.gh as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!

The United States Department of State has identified the one country whose nationals are ineligible for an American visa, and the answer may surprise many travellers: the United States itself.

In an official advisory published on its travel portal, Travel.State.Gov, the federal government confirmed that American citizens are legally prohibited from obtaining a US entry visa, regardless of any other passport they may hold.

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Under existing US federal law, every American citizen must use a valid US passport when entering or leaving the country.

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This requirement covers all categories of citizens, including those born on American soil, naturalised citizens, and individuals born abroad to American parents.

The Department of State also made clear that children are not exempt.

Even when a child's US citizenship has not been formally registered or documented, federal law still recognises that child as an American citizen, making them ineligible for a US visa.

Families travelling to the United States with such children must obtain a US passport for them before departure.

The restriction stretches beyond standard visas. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), commonly used by eligible foreign nationals to visit the US without a full visa, is also off-limits to American citizens.

The Department of Homeland Security routinely refuses or cancels ESTA applications submitted by dual nationals using a non-US passport.

US government warns dual citizens of 1 thing they must do after leaving America

Beyond these entry rules, the advisory highlighted additional challenges that dual nationals can face internationally.

Some countries impose mandatory military service on individuals the moment they arrive or attempt to leave, regardless of their American citizenship.

Others may enforce civil or family-related exit bans, situations where US consular officers often have limited ability to intervene due to restrictions placed by local authorities.

The advisory serves as a practical reminder that holding two passports does not offer unlimited flexibility, and that American citizenship carries specific legal travel obligations that cannot be bypassed through alternative documentation.

In a related development, YEN.com.gh reported that the US Department of State had issued a formal warning to American dual nationals about compulsory military service obligations in foreign countries.

Federal officials warned that enforcement could begin the moment a dual citizen arrived in their secondary country of citizenship.

The Department of State also flagged additional risks, including exit bans, restricted US consular access, and forced citizenship renunciation.

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Salifu Bagulube Moro (Human-Interest Editor) Salifu Bagulube Moro is a Current Affairs Editor at YEN.com.gh. He has over five years of experience in journalism. He graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2018, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies with a specialization in Journalism. Salifu previously worked with Opera News as a Content Management Systems (CMS) Editor. He also worked as an Online Reporter for the Ghanatalksbusiness.com news portal, as well as with the Graphic Communications Group Limited as a National Service Person. Salifu joined YEN.com.gh in 2024. Email: salifu.moro@yen.com.gh.