Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Emmanuel Victor Smith, has made it clear that the recent announcement by the US government to temporarily halt immigrant visa processing will not affect short-term travel, including business and tourism visits.
The clarification follows concerns raised after the US announced it would pause immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, starting January 21, 2026.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Ambassador Smith explained that the suspension applies only to immigrant visas. Non-immigrant visas, such as the B1–B2 category used for business and tourism, remain fully operational.
“The US State Department confirms that B1–B2 visas will continue. Only immigrant visas are being paused,” he said.
The US Department of State attributed the suspension to an ongoing review of its visa screening procedures under the long-standing “public charge” rules. These rules are designed to evaluate whether visa applicants may become heavily reliant on US public assistance programs.
The affected countries span Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, with others on the list including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Thailand, and Yemen.
Ambassador Smith urged prospective travelers not to panic, noting that the measure is limited in scope and does not impact students, tourists, or business visitors.
