Ghana’s Embassy in Washington DC has moved to calm public anxiety over reports of sweeping United States visa restrictions, stating that non-immigrant B1 and B2 visas for business and tourism remain unaffected and continue to be issued.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the Embassy said the US State Department had confirmed that only immigrant visa processing was being paused, contrary to reports suggesting a broader suspension that included short-term travel visas.
The clarification follows growing concern in Ghana after international media reports listed the country among 75 nations affected by an indefinite halt in visa processing by the US government.
The statement, attributed to Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, sought to address what it described as uncertainties surrounding the recent US visa restrictions.
It stressed that Ghanaians seeking B1 and B2 visas should not be affected by the new measures and urged the public to rely on official information rather than speculation.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of a reported State Department decision to pause immigrant visa processing for 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026, as part of a reassessment of screening and vetting procedures. According to Fox News, the move is aimed at tightening enforcement of the “public charge” provision of US immigration law, which allows consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to depend on public benefits.
A State Department memo cited in the report directs consular officers to refuse immigrant visas under existing law while the department reviews its processes. Ghana was mentioned among the affected countries in the Fox News report, triggering concern among prospective migrants and their families.
Explaining the rationale for the policy, State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott was quoted as saying, “The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people.”
He added that, “Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
The public charge provision, which has existed for decades, allows US authorities to consider factors such as health, age, financial status and potential reliance on state support when assessing immigrant visa applications. Its application has varied across different administrations, with periods of broader and narrower interpretation.
The Embassy’s intervention is expected to reassure Ghanaians planning short-term travel to the United States, even as uncertainty surrounds long-term migration pathways.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
