The United States has placed a temporary freeze on immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, as part of a sweeping review of how prospective immigrants are screened under the country’s “public charge” policy.
The suspension, which takes effect from January 21, was announced by the U.S. State Department and will remain open-ended while consular officials reassess criteria used to determine whether visa applicants may become reliant on public welfare systems in the United States.
The affected countries cut across multiple regions worldwide. In Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Uganda are among those impacted. Others include Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Brazil, Egypt, Haiti and Yemen.
U.S. immigration rules allow authorities to refuse immigrant visas if an applicant is considered likely to become a “public charge.” This assessment takes into account several factors, including age, medical condition, financial stability, education and language skills, family support, and the possibility of requiring long-term government assistance.
Explaining the decision, State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said the review is intended to safeguard U.S. public resources. He noted that the department is exercising powers already embedded in immigration law to prevent the entry of individuals who may place a burden on taxpayer-funded programmes.
The move follows increased scrutiny of welfare systems in the U.S., particularly after a large-scale fraud investigation in Minnesota involving public benefit programmes, where many of those implicated were reportedly Somali or Somali-American.
Despite the development, U.S. officials stress that the suspension does not apply to non-immigrant visas. Student, tourist and business visas remain unaffected, and the review does not signal any shift in existing diplomatic or trade relationships with the countries involved.
For Ghana, the pause comes against the backdrop of strong economic ties with Washington. The U.S. recently renewed Ghana’s eligibility under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for an additional three years, a move that continues to give Ghanaian exporters duty-free access to the American market and supports trade-led growth.
While the temporary halt may raise concerns among Ghanaians seeking permanent residency in the U.S., authorities insist the measure is not country-specific and could be lifted once the review of screening procedures is completed.
The State Department says additional instructions will be issued to U.S. embassies and consulates globally as the assessment progresses.
