Deputy Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson has said there’s no official documentation from the United Sates Department to Ghana on the limitation of Ghanaians to single-entry, 3-month visas.
He noted that until an official document is received from the United States, government cannot respond to the issue.
Appearing before the Appointment Committee on Friday, July 25, 2025, the Assin North MP said “Now, it is not official, there’s no official documentation from the State Department to Ghana. In practice, they are doing that but until we receive official documentation we cannot respond.”
The United States has introduced new visa rules for Ghana, limiting most non-immigrant visa holders to single-entry visas valid for just three months.
According to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, the new policy affects the majority of visa types, including B-class visas used for business and tourism, as well as F-1 student visas.
Read also: New U.S. visa policy limits most Ghanaians to single-entry, 3-month visas
This is a major shift from the previous arrangement, where many Ghanaian travelers received multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years.
Under the updated guidelines:
- B-class visas (for business or tourism) will now be single-entry and valid for three months.
- F-1 student visas will also be single-entry and expire after three months, even if the academic program lasts longer.
- A-class visas, issued to diplomats and government officials, remain multiple-entry with validity between 24 and 60 months.
- K1 and K2 visas, for foreign-citizen fiancés and their children, are single-entry valid for six months.
- K3 and K4 visas, for foreign spouses and their children, remain multiple-entry and valid for 24 months.
The changes were made under the U.S. Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents policy for Ghana. This system is designed to ensure that U.S. visa terms mirror those other countries offer to American citizens.
The new rules mean that Ghanaians who previously made multiple trips to the U.S. for business, studies, or tourism may now have to apply for a new visa every time they travel, leading to additional costs and paperwork.
While the U.S. government hasn’t publicly explained the reason for the policy change, such moves are often linked to diplomatic relations, immigration policies, or security updates. A similar adjustment was made recently for Nigerian nationals.
The revision is expected to impact frequent travelers and students the most, as they will now face tighter entry limits and shorter visa durations. It could also lead to longer waiting times at U.S. embassies for new visa approvals.
As of now, the U.S. Embassy in Accra has not issued a separate public statement on the policy change, but the new terms are already listed in the official visa documentation system for Ghana.
