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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, including B1–B2 business and tourist visas.
The clarification is expected to ease concerns among Ghanaians planning short-term travel to the United States for business or tourism, as B1–B2 visas will continue to be processed without interruption.
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 long-standing “public charge” rules.
According to the US State Department, the pause will take effect from January 21, 2026, and will remain in place indefinitely while consular officers reassess how immigrant 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 countries affected by the immigrant visa suspension span Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, and include Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Thailand, and Yemen, among others.
