Washington has lifted the visa restrictions imposed on a section of Ghanaian travellers to the United States.
A statement from the Embassy of the United States in the nation’s capital, Accra, indicated that, “visa processing will return to normal procedure” by 17th January, 2020.
“The United States has lifted the visa restrictions applied under Section 243 (d) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act. The validity period and 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 section 21 will revert to receiving the normal validity, based on reciprocity, which is currently five years with multiple entries,” a statement issued by the Public Affairs section of the Embassy of USA in Ghana said.
The United States had imposed visa restrictions on Ghana following a row over the deportation of Ghanaians staying illegally in the United States.
The move, which went into effect on February 4, 2019, will also affect government employees and politicians.
US officials had accused the West African country of refusing to accept the return of Ghanian nationals that it wants to deport.
Secretary of State (Mike) Pompeo had ordered consular officers in Ghana to implement visa restrictions on certain categories of visa applicants,” the Department of Homeland Security said in an earlier statement.
Some 7,000 Ghanaians are living illegally in the United States, according to the US embassy in Accra.
Washington said the sanctions would not be lifted until Ghanaian authorities comply with the directives.
See full statement below
The United States has lifted the visa restrictions applied under Section 243(d) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act. As of Friday, January 17, 2020, visa processing will return to the normal procedures.
The validity period and 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.
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.
By Jonathan Ofori, Daily Mail GH
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