Football fans planning to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup can breathe a sigh of relief, as the latest U.S. immigration restrictions do not apply to tourists and short-term visitors, including sports supporters.
The reassurance comes amid confirmation that Ghana has been listed among 75 countries whose citizens will face an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing to the United States, following a renewed expansion of President Donald Trump’s administration’s hardline immigration policies.
The suspension, which takes effect from January 21, applies strictly to immigrant visas, including those seeking permanent residency in the United States.
However, it does not affect non-immigrant visas such as tourist, business, student or short-term travel permits, which cover the majority of visa applicants and include those intending to attend international sporting events like the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games.
According to the U.S. State Department, the move forms part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls and prevent the entry of foreign nationals considered likely to depend on public assistance after admission into the United States.
In a directive to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed consular officers to halt immigrant visa processing for the affected countries while Washington conducts a reassessment of its immigration screening procedures.
The decision is based on guidance first issued in November, which expanded scrutiny of applicants who might become “public charges” under U.S. immigration law.
“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” the State Department said in a statement.
“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
Ghana joins several African, Asian and Latin American countries already affected by earlier visa restrictions and expanded travel bans under the Trump administration.
The latest decision deepens those measures and underscores a continued tightening of U.S. immigration policy.
Although U.S. law has long required immigrants seeking permanent residency to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency, the Trump administration previously broadened the range of public benefit programmes that could disqualify applicants.
The new guidance goes further by significantly expanding the scope of assessments carried out by consular officers.
Under the revised rules, visa officers are now required to evaluate applicants’ age, health status, family circumstances, financial resources, educational background, professional skills and any prior use of public assistance.
Officials may also assess English-language proficiency and conduct interviews in English as part of the screening process.
Immigrant visa applicants already undergo extensive vetting, including medical examinations by embassy-approved physicians to screen for communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, verify vaccination records and assess any history of substance abuse, mental health conditions or violent behaviour.
The new directive adds additional layers of scrutiny aimed at determining long-term financial independence.
Despite the immigrant visa suspension, U.S. officials expect demand for non-immigrant visas to rise sharply in the coming years, driven by major global events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, both of which the United States will host or co-host.
Authorities have confirmed that these temporary visa categories will continue to be processed under existing procedures.
The suspension affects countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Latin America, including Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and several others.
For Ghanaians, the policy is expected to impact families seeking reunification, professionals pursuing permanent relocation and diversity visa lottery applicants.
However, travel for tourism, business, education and major sporting events remains unaffected for now.
The U.S. government has not indicated when the reassessment will be completed, leaving thousands of prospective immigrants from Ghana and other affected countries uncertain about their plans for permanent settlement in the United States
