In July 2025, the United States shortened Ghana’s B1/B2 visa validity from five years to just three months with single entry. This decision is based on visa reciprocity, after Ghana imposed stricter visa rules for US citizens, ensuring both countries apply similar visa conditions.
According to the U.S Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, holders of A-class visas, mainly diplomats and government officials, will continue to receive multiple-entry visas with validity ranging from 24 to 60 months.
K1 and K2 visa holders (fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens and their dependent children) are still eligible for single-entry visas valid for six months, while K3 and K4 visa recipients (foreign-citizen spouses of U.S. citizens and their unmarried dependent children) will receive multiple-entry visas valid for 24 months.
However, a major revision impacts all other non-immigrant visa categories, including B-class visas, which cover business and tourism. These applicants will now only be issued single-entry visas valid for three months a sharp reduction from the previous five-year, multiple-entry status.
The new guidelines, as outlined in the updated U.S. Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents for Ghana, also affect student visa applicants, among others.
This follows nearly weeks after the US put restrictions on Ghanaians who are willing to enter the US even with a valid visa.
The rationale behind the imposition of the ban comes in the wakes of significant Visa overstays by Ghanaian on students Visas.
The government’s failure to meet the requirements for retrieving the student by the deadline set by officials also contributed to the expulsion.
However, the new policy shift indicates a tightening of travel privileges and is expected to affect the travel plans of many Ghanaian applicants seeking temporary entry to the United States.
