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The United States Embassy in Accra has warned Ghanaians planning to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to strictly adhere to U.S. immigration laws and avoid overstaying their visas.
Addressing the media on Friday, February 20, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, Rolf Olson, announced the release of tens of thousands of new visitor visa appointment slots to accommodate increasing travel demand ahead of the global tournament.
He noted that the newly opened slots are available to all visitor visa applicants, including those intending to attend matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Olson encouraged prospective travellers to book appointments early or reschedule to earlier dates where possible, following concerns about extended wait times in recent months.
According to him, the Embassy has increased its consular capacity to speed up visa processing and reduce delays. He assured applicants that appointment availability has improved significantly over the coming weeks.
Despite the expanded visa access, Olson emphasised that obtaining a U.S. visa does not automatically guarantee entry into the country. He explained that a visa only allows a traveller to board a flight and request entry at a U.S. port of entry.
Final decisions on admission and duration of stay are made by officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport. Travellers are required to comply with the period granted to them and must depart the United States before their authorised stay expires.
The Embassy warned that visa overstays will not be tolerated and could jeopardise future travel opportunities.
It also clarified that there will be no special or expedited visa procedures specifically for World Cup travellers, indicating that existing measures are sufficient to manage applications.
The U.S. Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Government of Ghana to facilitate lawful travel for the tournament while urging all applicants to respect visa conditions and U.S. immigration regulations.
