United States government has introduced new visa restrictions for Ghanaian nationals, limiting most non-immigrant visas to a three-month validity period with single-entry permissions.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision mirrors a similar restriction recently imposed on Nigerian nationals.
According to a circular from the US Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs, which was circulated to selected media outlets in Ghana, the new rule affects business, tourism, and student visa categories, drastically shortening their validity and entry privileges.
Under the new terms, Ghanaians applying for B-category visas, typically issued for business and tourism, will now receive visas valid for just three months and only usable for a single entry into the United States.
Student visa holders, particularly those under the F1 category, are also subject to the revised restrictions.
Diplomatic visa categories, however, remain exempt. Applicants for A-class visas, reserved for government officials and diplomats, will continue to enjoy multiple-entry status with validity periods ranging from 24 to 60 months.
The circular also noted variations for family-based visas: while the K1 and K2 visa classes face reductions, the K3 and K4 categories retain a multiple-entry validity of up to 24 months.
The US embassy attributes the new restrictions to a global review of visa reciprocity, aiming to align visa rules with those of countries whose nationals the US admits. This policy principle requires the US to match visa conditions offered to US citizens by other countries.
