The United States Embassy in Ghana has announced the restoration of maximum validity periods for all categories of non-immigrant visas for Ghanaians to their previous lengths. In a statement on Thursday, the Embassy confirmed that the B1/B2 visitor visa now carries a maximum validity of five years with multiple entry, while the F1 student visa has been reinstated at four years, multiple entry.
Reacting to the announcement, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, welcomed the development, describing it as an outcome of high-level bilateral discussions. “I am delighted to acknowledge the US government’s public confirmation of our bilateral discussions in New York yesterday,” he stated.
The Minister added that Ghana will continue negotiations with the United States on new tariffs, a bespoke Ghana-US trade deal, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and strategic security cooperation.
He further noted that government is taking measures to tighten passport acquisition processes to safeguard the country’s recent diplomatic progress. “Ghana is also set to tighten our passport acquisition controls to prevent unscrupulous elements from undermining recent diplomatic gains in new visa regimes and visa waiver agreements with multiple countries,” he said.
