In light of recent changes to US visa policies, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has provided clarity regarding the impact on non-immigrant visas. His remarks come after the Trump administration’s announcement to pause immigrant visa processing for certain countries, including Ghana.
On January 14, 2026, the official Facebook page of the Ghana Embassy in Washington, DC, featured a statement from Ambassador Smith, assuring that short-term travel visas, specifically B1-B2 categories, will continue to be processed without interruption.
Smith emphasized that the suspension only pertains to immigrant visas and reassured potential travelers that their plans for short-term visits to the United States would not be affected. The ambassador’s comments were prompted by rising concerns following the US State Department’s decision to halt visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, Ghana being one of them.
The visa processing suspension is set to commence on January 21, 2026, and will remain in effect pending further review. The list of affected nations includes a diverse range of countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, with Ghana and Nigeria among the notable mentions.
Ambassador Smith’s timely clarification aims to alleviate anxiety among travelers from Ghana, ensuring that opportunities for short-term visits to the US remain accessible despite the broader visa processing changes.
