B1-B2 visas not affected by US immigrant visa pause – Ambassador Smith

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Emmanuel Victor Smith, has provided clarification that the temporary halt on immigrant visa processing by the United States does not impact non-immigrant visas for Ghanaians.

This clarification is anticipated to alleviate concerns among Ghanaians planning short-term travel to the United States for business or tourism, as B1-B2 visas remain unaffected by the temporary suspension.

This development follows an earlier announcement by the US government that it would implement a temporary pause on immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, as part of a review of its visa screening procedures under the long-standing “public charge” rules.

According to the US State Department, the pause takes effect on January 21 and will remain in place indefinitely while consular officers reassess how visa applicants are evaluated to determine whether they are likely to become overly dependent on US public welfare systems.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Ambassador Smith explained that the directive applies strictly to immigrant visas.

“The US State Department confirms that B1-B2 visas will continue. Only immigrant visas are being paused,” he stated.

The affected countries span several regions, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, and include Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Thailand, and Yemen, among others.