USA to pause immigrants visa processing for 75 countries including Ghana and Nigeria

Reports circulating in international media indicate that the United States may temporarily suspend parts of its visa processing for nationals of about 75 countries, with Ghana reportedly among those affected, starting January 21, 2026.

According to international news agencies and immigration policy analysts, the reported suspension is linked to a review of visa screening and vetting procedures by the U.S. government. The move is said to be administrative in nature, rather than a blanket travel ban, and is aimed at strengthening compliance with existing immigration and security laws.

What is Known So Far

Available reports suggest that the measure is expected to affect certain categories of immigrant visas, particularly those related to permanent residency and long-term migration. It remains unclear whether non-immigrant visas, such as tourist (B1/B2), student (F-1), or exchange visas (J-1), will be impacted.

No official, country-by-country list has yet been publicly released by the U.S. Department of State. However, several African, Asian, Caribbean, and Latin American countries have been mentioned in media reports citing diplomatic and policy sources.

Ghana Mentioned in Reports

Ghana has been named in multiple media discussions as one of the countries that could be affected by the temporary pause. As of the time of filing this report, the U.S. Embassy in Accra has not issued an official public notice confirming changes to visa operations.

Applicants with scheduled interviews or pending applications are therefore being advised to monitor official U.S. Embassy communications and avoid relying solely on social media reports.

Experts Urge Calm

Immigration and travel experts have urged applicants not to panic, noting that similar pauses in the past were procedural reviews rather than permanent restrictions. Such reviews often result in updated guidelines rather than long-term suspensions.

Awaiting Official Confirmation

Nsemgh notes that while the reports are gaining global attention, official clarification from U.S. authorities is still awaited. Applicants are encouraged to rely on verified embassy