Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Emmanuel Victor Smith, has moved to allay public anxiety following reports of a temporary suspension of US visa processing, assuring that Ghanaians can still apply for business and tourist visas without restriction.
His clarification follows a US government announcement indicating that immigrant visa processing for nationals of about 75 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, would be temporarily halted, a development that raised concerns among prospective travellers.
Ambassador Smith explained that the directive does not apply to non-immigrant visas, particularly B1–B2 visas, which cover business and tourism travel.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, January 15, 2026, he stated:
“The US State Department confirms that B1–B2 visas will continue. Only immigrant visas are being paused.”
The US State Department said the suspension is scheduled to take effect on January 21 and will remain in place while consular officials conduct a review of visa screening procedures under existing “public charge” regulations.
The review is intended to strengthen assessments of whether immigrant visa applicants are likely to become overly dependent on US public welfare systems.
The temporary pause affects countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean, including Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Thailand and Yemen, among others.
Ambassador Smith’s assurance is expected to calm fears among Ghanaians planning short-term visits to the United States for business, tourism, conferences and family engagements, as those visa categories remain fully operational.
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