United States has announced a temporary suspension of immigration visa processing for national 75 countries including Ghana

The United States has announced a temporary suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, as part of a broad review of its immigration screening procedures. The decision, which takes effect on January 21, is tied to the enforcement of long-standing “public charge” rules used to assess whether prospective immigrants are likely to depend heavily on U.S. public assistance programs.

According to the U.S. State Department, the pause is not a permanent ban and does not target any single country. Instead, it is described as a procedural measure aimed at strengthening how consular officers evaluate immigrant visa applicants. Authorities say the review will remain in place until updated screening standards are finalized, after which visa processing could resume.

The heightened scrutiny follows a major fraud investigation in Minnesota involving misuse of taxpayer-funded welfare programs. Reports indicate that several individuals implicated in the case were Somali or Somali-American, prompting renewed attention to how immigrant eligibility for public benefits is assessed. U.S. officials argue that the move is necessary to safeguard public resources and prevent abuse of social support systems.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott emphasized that the government is exercising its legal authority to deny visas to individuals deemed likely to become a public charge. He stated that immigrant visa processing from the affected countries will remain paused while procedures are reviewed to ensure that new arrivals do not exploit welfare and public benefit programs.

Importantly, the suspension applies only to immigrant visas. Non-immigrant visas such as those for students, tourists, and business travelers are not affected. Existing diplomatic, trade, and economic relationships with the impacted countries also remain unchanged.

For Ghana, the announcement comes at a time of strong bilateral economic cooperation with the United States. Washington recently extended Ghana’s eligibility under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for an additional three years. The program allows Ghanaian exporters duty-free access to the U.S. market for thousands of products, supporting trade, employment, and private sector development.

While the visa pause may cause uncertainty for individuals seeking permanent residency in the U.S., officials stress that it is a temporary administrative review rather than a discriminatory policy. Further guidance is expected to be issued to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide as the reassessment process continues.