U.S Embassy opens thousands of additional non-immigrant visa slots to Ghanaians

The U.S. Embassy in Accra has announced the opening of thousands of additional non-immigrant visa appointment slots for Ghanaians, encouraging prospective travellers to apply early as preparations intensify ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico.

The development comes amid heightened public attention to U.S. visa policies after Ghana was affected by a temporary pause on selected immigrant visa processing alongside several other countries. However, the B1/B2 non-immigrant visa category, which covers short-term travel for business and tourism, remains unaffected and continues to be processed through normal consular procedures.

In a post on social media, the Embassy encouraged prospective applicants to take advantage of the expanded appointment availability, particularly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico. The Embassy advised applicants who do not yet hold valid U.S. visas to apply early, projecting anticipated travel demand during the tournament period.

The opening of the additional slots is expected to benefit Ghanaians planning to travel to support the Black Stars at the Mundial, as global demand for World Cup attendance continues to surge. FIFA’s ticketing programme recorded an unprecedented over 500 million ticket requests during the Random Selection Draw application window, which ran from December 11 to January 13, following the official draw and release of the tournament schedule.

“The U.S. Embassy in Accra has opened thousands of additional non-immigrant visa appointment slots, many available now. Embassy Accra continues to process non-immigrant visa applications. Planning to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup? If you do not yet have a valid U.S. visa, we encourage you to apply early,” the statement said.

The development follows public concern after Ghana was listed among countries affected by a temporary pause on certain immigrant visa categories under a broader U.S. administrative review. However, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has since clarified that non-immigrant visas, particularly the B1/B2 category, remain unaffected.

In a statement posted on the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C.’s Facebook page, Ambassador Smith confirmed that the United States has not suspended B1/B2 visa issuance, which covers short-term business and tourism travel. He explained that the restrictions apply only to selected immigrant visa categories, which are typically linked to permanent residency.

He reassured Ghanaians seeking temporary travel to the United States for business engagements, conferences, medical treatment, tourism, or family visits that they remain fully eligible to apply under existing consular procedures. He further urged applicants to rely on official communications and comply strictly with visa requirements, noting that diplomatic relations between Ghana and the United States remain strong across trade, security, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

Source: Diplomatic Times