By James Amoh Junior
Accra, Feb. 20, GNA – The United States Embassy in Accra has urged Ghanaians planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup to apply early for their visas.
The Embassy has announced the release of thousands of additional appointment slots to ease travel preparations for the global tournament.
Mr Rolf Olson, the Charge d’Affaires, speaking at a media engagement session in Accra, said the Embassy had significantly expanded its consular capacity to meet anticipated demand, but cautioned that applicants should not wait until closer to the competition before beginning the process .
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and is expected to be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches.
The media engagement session was organised to clarify visa procedures, appointment availability and policy guidelines ahead of the tournament .
Mr Olson disclosed that since mid-January, additional consular officers had been deployed to Accra, enabling the Embassy to add hundreds of B visa interview slots daily.
“As of today, February 20, we have added tens of thousands of B visa appointments in the lead-up to the World Cup, and indeed we have lots of appointments available now,” he said.
The Charge d’Affaires encouraged football fans, sports officials, journalists and business delegations intending to travel to take advantage of the improved appointment availability.
“There’s no reason to wait to apply for a B visa,” he stated, emphasising that once appointment capacity was reached, no additional slots could be created .
The Charge d’Affaires acknowledged previous frustrations over long wait times for non-immigrant visa interviews in Ghana but said the situation had improved markedly.
He recalled that Ghana’s non-immigrant visa appointment wait time stood at about 15 months in late 2024 but had reduced significantly over the past year.
With the current surge in staffing, appointments are now available within weeks.
Mr Olson stressed that the increased availability benefits all categories of B visa applicants, not only those travelling for the World Cup.
The B visa covers tourism, business travel, medical treatment and family visits.
Clarifying misconceptions, he noted that applicants do not need to secure a World Cup ticket before applying for a visa.
Similarly, holding a ticket does not influence the outcome of a visa application.
He noted that, “Decisions by consular officers about eligibility for a U.S. visa are grounded in U.S. law,” and that immigration laws had not changed because of the tournament.
He emphasised that each applicant must independently meet the legal requirements for a B visa and respond truthfully during the interview process.
Mr Olson also warned against the activities of so-called “visa fixers,” stating that no intermediary coud guarantee the issuance of a U.S. visa.
“You do not need to pay anyone to secure a visa,” he said, explaining that the only required payment was the official application fee.
On compliance, the Charge d’Affaires urged travellers to respect the terms of their admission into the United States.
He explained that while a visa permits a traveller to board a flight and request entry, it is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry who determines the authorised length of stay, typically up to six months for B visa holders.
Overstaying beyond the approved period constitutes a violation of U.S. law and may attract serious consequences, including future visa ineligibility.
The Charge d’Affaires said “People who have exceeded the terms of their visa are breaking the law, and we will take that very seriously,” he cautioned.
He advised prospective travellers to check the validity of their passports before applying. U.S. regulations require at least six months of passport validity at the time of entry.
For those planning World Cup travel this year, passports should be valid through at least early 2027.
Applicants with existing U.S. visas are also encouraged to verify expiration dates and renew early if necessary.
Mr Olson said the Embassy’s expanded visa operations formed part of broader cooperation with the Government of Ghana to support Ghana’s participation in the 2026 tournament, including its national team, officials and supporters.
He reiterated the commitment of the U.S. Government to host a safe and successful World Cup, welcoming visitors from around the world.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba