The United States (US) has lifted the visa restriction sanctions imposed on Ghana in 2019.
This follows the establishment of a mutually agreed process for the identification, validating and issuance of travel documentation to Ghanaian citizens under final orders of removal in a manner consistent with international standards issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization, of which Ghana is a Member State,” the U.S. Embassy in Accra, stated on its website.
The US announced the implementation of visa sanctions on Ghana for the country’s lack of cooperation in accepting Ghanaians that have been deported from the U.S.
Consequently, the US Embassy in Ghana ceased to issue all non-immigrant visas to domestic employees (A3 and G5) of Ghanaian officials travelling to the US.
Limitations were also placed on the duration period and the number of entries on new business and tourist visas (B1, B2, B1/B2) for employees of individuals from the Ghanaian executive and legislature.
Spouses and children of all Ghanaians in the executive and legislature were also affected by the sanctions.
But the latest statement announcing a reversal of the sanctions noted that that visa processing will return to the normal procedures by Friday, January 17, 2020.
The validity period and the number of entries on new tourist and business visas (B1, B2, and B1/B2) for all Ghanaian executive and legislative branch employees, their spouses, and their children under 21 will revert to receiving the normal validity, based on reciprocity, which is currently five years with multiple entries.
All pending non-immigrant visas (NIV) to domestic employees (A3 and G5) of Ghanaian diplomats posted in the United States that were received during the visa restrictions will now be processed.